Via Serine Proteases Pneumoniae Streptococcus Human Neutrophils Kill

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Via Serine Proteases Pneumoniae Streptococcus Human Neutrophils Kill Human Neutrophils Kill Streptococcus pneumoniae via Serine Proteases Alistair J. Standish and Jeffrey N. Weiser This information is current as J Immunol 2009; 183:2602-2609; Prepublished online 20 of October 2, 2021. July 2009; doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0900688 http://www.jimmunol.org/content/183/4/2602 Downloaded from References This article cites 48 articles, 24 of which you can access for free at: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/183/4/2602.full#ref-list-1 Why The JI? Submit online. http://www.jimmunol.org/ • Rapid Reviews! 30 days* from submission to initial decision • No Triage! Every submission reviewed by practicing scientists • Fast Publication! 4 weeks from acceptance to publication *average by guest on October 2, 2021 Subscription Information about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: http://jimmunol.org/subscription Permissions Submit copyright permission requests at: http://www.aai.org/About/Publications/JI/copyright.html Email Alerts Receive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at: http://jimmunol.org/alerts The Journal of Immunology is published twice each month by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc., 1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 650, Rockville, MD 20852 Copyright © 2009 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0022-1767 Online ISSN: 1550-6606. The Journal of Immunology Human Neutrophils Kill Streptococcus pneumoniae via Serine Proteases1 Alistair J. Standish and Jeffrey N. Weiser2 Neutrophils, or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, comprise a crucial component of innate immunity, controlling bacterial and fungal infection through a combination of both oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms. Indeed, neutrophils are believed to play an important role in controlling infection caused by the major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, the method by which neutrophils kill the pneumococcus as well as other Gram-positive bacteria, is not fully understood. We investigated human neutrophil killing of the pneumococcus in a complement-dependent opsonophagocytic assay. In contrast to other Gram-positive organisms, inhibition of the NADPH oxidase did not affect killing of S. pneumoniae. Supernatant from degranulated neutrophils killed the pneumococcus, suggesting a role for granular products. When neutrophil granule proteases were inhibited with either a protease mixture, or specific serine protease inhibitors 4-(2-Aminoethyl)benzenesulfonylfluoride and diisopropylfluorophos- phate, killing by neutrophils was inhibited in a manner that correlated with increased intracellular survival. All three compounds Downloaded from inhibited intracellular activity of the three major neutrophil serine proteases: elastase, cathepsin G, and proteinase 3. Additionally, purified elastase and cathepsin G were sufficient to kill S. pneumoniae in a serine protease dependent-manner in in vitro assays. Inhibition studies using specific inhibitors of these serine proteases suggested that while each serine protease is sufficient to kill the pneumococcus, none is essential. Our findings show that Gram-positive pathogens are killed by human neutrophils via different mechanisms involving serine proteases. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183: 2602–2609. http://www.jimmunol.org/ olymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) are a major host defense against this Gram-positive diplococcus. Neutrophils component of innate immunity, providing a crucial first are among the first cells recruited during many stages of Spn P barrier against both bacterial and fungal infection. Indeed, pathogenesis, including asymptomatic nasopharyngeal coloniza- neutropenic individuals are highly susceptible to a multitude of life tion, as well as invasive infection of the lungs (2, 3). Recently, we threatening infections as a direct result of the loss of these immune reported that a normally asymptomatic colonizing strain became cells. In healthy individuals, neutrophils circulating in the blood- invasive when mice were depleted of neutrophils (4). Additionally, stream are the first cells recruited to the site of infection, where neutrophil killing early in infection contributed to the subsequent they engulf pathogens into the phagolysosome thus exposing them development of the adaptive immune response. These observa- by guest on October 2, 2021 to a multitude of both oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms of tions, therefore, confirm that neutrophils play an important role in killing. It has also been suggested that neutrophils produce neu- controlling Spn infection. However, the mechanism by which neu- trophil extracellular traps (NETs),3, which first trap pathogens trophils kill Gram-positive pathogens such as Spn is still largely within chromatin structures, and subsequently kill with various unknown. antimicrobial proteins (1). Neutrophil antimicrobial mechanisms are generally divided into Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), commonly known as the two distinct groups, the oxidative and nonoxidative. The oxidative pneumococcus, is a major human pathogen responsible for much burst, which generates reactive oxidative species (ROS) through an morbidity and mortality worldwide. Protection against disease and NADPH oxidase system, was long thought of as the neutrophil’s colonization is mainly mediated by opsonin-dependent phagocy- primary mode of killing pathogens. The essential nature of this tosis. Neutrophils have long been considered key effector cells in defense is seen by the fact that individuals with chronic granulo- tomas disease (CGD), which results in reduced production of ROS, have recurrent bacterial and fungal infections. However, Spn and Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Phil- other catalase-negative organisms are not frequently associated adelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 with infection in CGD patients. Indeed, neutrophils isolated from Received for publication March 4, 2009. Accepted for publication June 18, 2009. CGD patients killed Spn just as efficiently as the control in ex vivo The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page experiments (5). Additionally, mice deficient in enzymes associ- charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance ated with phagocyte production of ROS, have shown that ROS do with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. not play a role in controlling Spn infection in either the lungs or 1 This work was supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service to J.N.W. (AI44231 and AI38446). brain (6, 7). Thus, this suggests that other neutrophil killing mech- 2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jeffrey N. Weiser, 402A John- anisms are necessary to control Spn. son Pavilion, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail address: Other than ROS, neutrophils also produce a multitude of anti- [email protected] microbial molecules in their granules. The two major granule sub- 3 Abbreviations used in this paper: NET, neutrophil extracellular trap; Spn, Strepto- sets are the azurophilic and specific granules. The azurophilic coccus pneumoniae; ROS, reactive oxygen species; CGD, chronic granulotomas dis- ease; BPI, bactericidal permeability-increasing protein; TS, tryptic soy broth; DPI, granules, are the first to fuse with the phagolysosome and contain diphenyleneiodonium; PI, protease inhibitor cocktail; AEBSF, 4-(2-Aminoethyl)ben- defensins, bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI) as zenesulfonylfluoride, Hcl; DFP, diisopropylfluorophosphate; wt, wild type; OPH, op- well as serine proteases such as elastase, cathepsin G and protein- sonophagocytic; CytB, cytochalasin B; HNP, human neutrophil peptides. ase 3. Although BPI and defensins function by disrupting anionic Copyright © 2009 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. 0022-1767/09/$2.00 bacterial surfaces, the serine proteases generally degrade bacterial www.jimmunol.org/cgi/doi/10.4049/jimmunol.0900688 The Journal of Immunology 2603 proteins, including virulence factors. The invading pathogen is CD18)-deficient mice (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories) have a tar- then exposed to the specific granules that contain additional mi- geted mutation in the gene for integrin ␣ M or CR3 (19). crobicides such as lactoferrin, which has been implicated in de- Opsonophagocytic killing assays fense against Spn (8). The importance of these nonoxidative mechanisms is exempli- Opsonophagocytic (OPH) killing assays were conducted essentially as de- scribed by Davis et al. (2008). Bacterial strains were grown to mid-log fied by Chedaki-Higashi syndrome. This syndrome results in re- phase, PBS-washed, and resuspended in ϩϩϩ solution. In brief, 103 bac- duced levels of microbicidals as well as lower mobilization of its terial cells (in 10 ␮l) were preopsonized with infant rabbit serum shown to granules (9). Patients with this syndrome exhibit recurrent infec- be free of Spn Abs (40 ␮l) (Pel-Freez) for 30 min at 37°C. When Abs were tions and lower life expectancy. Interestingly, neutrophils isolated required, a 1/100 dilution of type 6 specific capsular anitbodies (Statens serum Institut) was added to the preopsonisaton reaction. Neutrophils were from a Chedaki-Higashi syndrome patient had a diminished ca- then added to reactions (105 cells per reaction in 40 ␮l) with ϩϩϩ solution pacity to kill Spn, indicating that nonoxidative mechanisms play an (110 ␮l) and incubated for 45 min at 37°C with rotation. Reactions were important role in neutrophil-mediated killing (10).
Recommended publications
  • MPO) in Inflammatory Communication
    antioxidants Review The Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Function of Myeloperoxidase (MPO) in Inflammatory Communication Yulia Kargapolova * , Simon Geißen, Ruiyuan Zheng, Stephan Baldus, Holger Winkels * and Matti Adam Department III of Internal Medicine, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, 50937 North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; [email protected] (S.G.); [email protected] (R.Z.); [email protected] (S.B.); [email protected] (M.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (Y.K.); [email protected] (H.W.) Abstract: Myeloperoxidase is a signature enzyme of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in mice and humans. Being a component of circulating white blood cells, myeloperoxidase plays multiple roles in various organs and tissues and facilitates their crosstalk. Here, we describe the current knowledge on the tissue- and lineage-specific expression of myeloperoxidase, its well-studied enzymatic activity and incoherently understood non-enzymatic role in various cell types and tissues. Further, we elaborate on Myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the complex context of cardiovascular disease, innate and autoimmune response, development and progression of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords: myeloperoxidase; oxidative burst; NETs; cellular internalization; immune response; cancer; neurodegeneration Citation: Kargapolova, Y.; Geißen, S.; Zheng, R.; Baldus, S.; Winkels, H.; Adam, M. The Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Function of 1. Introduction. MPO Conservation Across Species, Maturation in Myeloid Progenitors, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) in and its Role in Immune Responses Inflammatory Communication. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a lysosomal protein and part of the organism’s host-defense Antioxidants 2021, 10, 562. https:// system. MPOs’ pivotal function is considered to be its enzymatic activity in response to doi.org/10.3390/antiox10040562 invading pathogenic agents.
    [Show full text]
  • Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (EDN/Rnase 2) and the Mouse Eosinophil-Associated Rnases (Mears): Expanding Roles in Promoting Host Defense
    Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16, 15442-15455; doi:10.3390/ijms160715442 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Review Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (EDN/RNase 2) and the Mouse Eosinophil-Associated RNases (mEars): Expanding Roles in Promoting Host Defense Helene F. Rosenberg Inflammation Immunobiology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-301-402-1545; Fax: +1-301-480-8384 Academic Editor: Ester Boix Received: 18 May 2015 / Accepted: 30 June 2015 / Published: 8 July 2015 Abstract: The eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN/RNase2) and its divergent orthologs, the mouse eosinophil-associated RNases (mEars), are prominent secretory proteins of eosinophilic leukocytes and are all members of the larger family of RNase A-type ribonucleases. While EDN has broad antiviral activity, targeting RNA viruses via mechanisms that may require enzymatic activity, more recent studies have elucidated how these RNases may generate host defense via roles in promoting leukocyte activation, maturation, and chemotaxis. This review provides an update on recent discoveries, and highlights the versatility of this family in promoting innate immunity. Keywords: inflammation; leukocyte; evolution; chemoattractant 1. Introduction The eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN/RNase 2) is one of the four major secretory proteins found in the specific granules of the human eosinophilic leukocyte (Figure 1). EDN, and its more highly charged and cytotoxic paralog, the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP/RNase 3) are released from eosinophil granules when these cells are activated by cytokines and other proinflammatory mediators [1,2].
    [Show full text]
  • Rapid Publication
    Rapid Publication Monocyte-Chemotactic Activity of Defensins from Human Neutrophils Mary C. Territo,* Tomas Ganz,** Michael E. Selsted,*1 and Robert Lehrer*II Departments of*Medicine and §Pathology, and * Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Laboratory, Centerfor the Health Sciences, University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles, California 90024; and IlDepartment ofMedicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, West Los Angeles, California 90073 Abstract Methods We investigated the monocyte-chemotactic activity of frac- Leukocytes for chemotactic studies were obtained from heparinized tionated extracts of human neutrophil granules. Monocyte- peripheral blood by Ficoll-Hypaque density separation to obtain chemotactic activity was found predominantly in the defensin- mononuclear cells, followed by dextran sedimentation to obtain neu- trophils (5). Cells were washed and resuspended at 106 monocytes or containing fraction of the neutrophil granules. Purified prepa- neutrophils/ml in HBSS containing 0.1% BSA (Calbiochem-Behring rations of each of the three human defensins (HNP-1, HNP-2, Corp., La Jolla, CA). HNP-3) were then tested. HNP-1 demonstrated significant Granule-rich fractions were prepared from neutrophils from single chemotactic activity for monocytes: Peak activity was seen at donor leukophoresis packs (Hemacare, Van Nuys, CA) containing 1-3 HNP-1 concentrations of 5 X 10' M and was 49±20% X 10'° cells, of which > 90% were viable PMN. After suspension in (mean±SE, n = 9) of that elicited by 10-8 M FMLP. HNP-2 HBSS (pH 7.4) with 2.5 mM MgCl2, the cell suspension was sealed in a (peak activity at 5 X i0' M) was somewhat less active, yield- nitrogen "bomb" (Parr Instrument Co., Moline, IL) and pressurized to ing 19±10% (n = 11).
    [Show full text]
  • Specific Granule Deficiency Karen J
    Selective Defect in Myeloid Cell Lactoferrin Gene Expression in Neutrophil Specific Granule Deficiency Karen J. Lomax,* John 1. Gallin,* Daniel Rotrosen,* Gordon D. Raphael,* Michael A. Kaliner,* Edward J. Benz, Jr.,* Laurence A. Boxer,§ and Harry L. Malech* *Bacterial Diseases Section and Allergic Diseases Section, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute ofAllergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes ofHealth, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; tDepartment ofMedicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510; and §Department ofPediatrics, University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Abstract After subcellular fractionation of the granule components of SGD neutrophils on a sucrose gradient, the primary granule Neutrophil specific granule deficiency (SGD) is a congenital fraction is seen as a single broad band that is less dense than disorder associated with an impaired inflammatory response normal and the band of the expected density for specific gran- and a deficiency of several granule proteins. The underlying ules is absent (3-5). These abnormal banding patterns are as- abnormality causing the deficiencies is unknown. We exam- sociated with the absence or deficiency of a subset of neutro- ined mRNA transcription and protein synthesis of two neutro- phil secretory proteins that may not be limited to those usually phil granule proteins, lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase in SGD. found in specific granules such as lactoferrin and vitamin Metabolically labeled SGD nucleated marrow cells produced B- 12-binding protein. Other granule proteins, such as the pri- normal amounts of myeloperoxidase, but there was no detect- mary granule protein, defensin (6), and the tertiary granule able synthesis of lactoferrin. Transcripts of the expected size protein, gelatinase (2, 7) are also deficient.
    [Show full text]
  • Selective Defect in Myeloid Cell Lactoferrin Gene Expression in Neutrophil Specific Granule Deficiency
    Selective defect in myeloid cell lactoferrin gene expression in neutrophil specific granule deficiency. K J Lomax, … , L A Boxer, H L Malech J Clin Invest. 1989;83(2):514-519. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI113912. Research Article Neutrophil specific granule deficiency (SGD) is a congenital disorder associated with an impaired inflammatory response and a deficiency of several granule proteins. The underlying abnormality causing the deficiencies is unknown. We examined mRNA transcription and protein synthesis of two neutrophil granule proteins, lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase in SGD. Metabolically labeled SGD nucleated marrow cells produced normal amounts of myeloperoxidase, but there was no detectable synthesis of lactoferrin. Transcripts of the expected size for lactoferrin were detectable in the nucleated marrow cells of two SGD patients, but were markedly diminished in abundance when compared with normal nucleated marrow cell RNA. Because lactoferrin is secreted by the glandular epithelia of several tissues, we also assessed lactoferrin in the nasal secretions of one SGD patient by ELISA and immunoblotting. Nasal secretory lactoferrin was the same molecular weight as neutrophil lactoferrin and was secreted in normal amounts. From these data, we conclude that lactoferrin deficiency in SGD neutrophils is tissue specific and is secondary to an abnormality of RNA production. We speculate that the deficiency of several granule proteins is due to a common defect in regulation of transcription that is responsible for the abnormal myeloid differentiation seen in SGD patients. Find the latest version: https://jci.me/113912/pdf Selective Defect in Myeloid Cell Lactoferrin Gene Expression in Neutrophil Specific Granule Deficiency Karen J. Lomax,* John 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Hypoxia on Neutrophil Degranulation and Consequences for the Host
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review The Impact of Hypoxia on Neutrophil Degranulation and Consequences for the Host Katharine M. Lodge 1, Andrew S. Cowburn 1 , Wei Li 2 and Alison M. Condliffe 3,* 1 Faculty of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LY, UK; [email protected] (K.M.L.); [email protected] (A.S.C.) 2 Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK; [email protected] 3 Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK * Correspondence: a.m.condliffe@sheffield.ac.uk Received: 13 January 2020; Accepted: 8 February 2020; Published: 11 February 2020 Abstract: Neutrophils are key effector cells of innate immunity, rapidly recruited to defend the host against invading pathogens. Neutrophils may kill pathogens intracellularly, following phagocytosis, or extracellularly, by degranulation and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps; all of these microbicidal strategies require the deployment of cytotoxic proteins and proteases, packaged during neutrophil development within cytoplasmic granules. Neutrophils operate in infected and inflamed tissues, which can be profoundly hypoxic. Neutrophilic infiltration of hypoxic tissues characterises a myriad of acute and chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases, and as well as potentially protecting the host from pathogens, neutrophil granule products have been implicated in causing collateral tissue damage in these scenarios. This review discusses the evidence for the enhanced secretion of destructive neutrophil granule contents observed in hypoxic environments and the potential mechanisms for this heightened granule exocytosis, highlighting implications for the host. Understanding the dichotomy of the beneficial and detrimental consequences of neutrophil degranulation in hypoxic environments is crucial to inform potential neutrophil-directed therapeutics in order to limit persistent, excessive, or inappropriate inflammation.
    [Show full text]
  • Leukocyte Adhesion Receptors Are Stored in Peroxidase-Negative Granules of Human Neutrophils
    LEUKOCYTE ADHESION RECEPTORS ARE STORED IN PEROXIDASE-NEGATIVE GRANULES OF HUMAN NEUTROPHILS BY DOROTHY F. BAINTON, LINDA J. MILLER, T. K. KISHIMOTO, AND TIMOTHY A. SPRINGER From the Department ofPathology, University ofCalifornia School ofMedicine, San Francisco, California 94143; and the Laboratory ofMembrane Immunochemistry, Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Downloaded from Leukocytes must interact with vascular endothelial cells to be able to migrate from the circulation to sites of inflammation. These cellular adhesion reactions are mediated, in part, by surface molecules that belong to a family ofstructurally related glycoproteins: Mac-1, p150,95, and lymphocyte function-associated an- www.jem.org tigen I (LFA-1)' (1). These proteins are composed of noncovalently linked a/o heterodimers that have distinct a subunits with Mr of 170,000 (Mac-1, CD 1 I b), 150,000 (pl50,95, CDllc), and 180,000 (LFA-1, CDlla). The ,Q subunit (CD18), Mr 95,000, has been shown to be identical in all three proteins by on December 6, 2004 physicochemical, immunochemical, and protein sequencing studies, and homol- ogous to several adhesion receptors in other cell types (2, 3). The importance of this family of surface proteins in leukocyte function is underscored by the existence of a human genetic disease termed leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD). Patients with LAD are deficient in expression of all of these proteins and suffer from recurrent life-threatening bacterial infections because their leuko- cytes do not adhere to and migrate between endothelial cells to form an acute inflammatory exudate (1). While LFA-1 appears on the cell surface very early in the maturation of neutrophils and monocytes, Mac- I and p150,95 are found on more mature cells (4-6).
    [Show full text]
  • The Enigma of Eosinophil Degranulation
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review The Enigma of Eosinophil Degranulation Timothée Fettrelet 1,2 , Lea Gigon 1, Alexander Karaulov 3 , Shida Yousefi 1 and Hans-Uwe Simon 1,3,4,5,* 1 Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Inselspital, INO-F, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland; [email protected] (T.F.); [email protected] (L.G.); shida.yousefi@pki.unibe.ch (S.Y.) 2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland 3 Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 4 Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420012 Kazan, Russia 5 Institute of Biochemistry, Medical School Brandenburg, D-16816 Neuruppin, Germany * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +41-31-632-3281 Abstract: Eosinophils are specialized white blood cells, which are involved in the pathology of diverse allergic and nonallergic inflammatory diseases. Eosinophils are traditionally known as cytotoxic effector cells but have been suggested to additionally play a role in immunomodulation and maintenance of homeostasis. The exact role of these granule-containing leukocytes in health and diseases is still a matter of debate. Degranulation is one of the key effector functions of eosinophils in response to diverse stimuli. The different degranulation patterns occurring in eosinophils (piecemeal degranulation, exocytosis and cytolysis) have been extensively studied in the last few years. How- ever, the exact mechanism of the diverse degranulation types remains unknown and is still under investigation. In this review, we focus on recent findings and highlight the diversity of stimulation and methods used to evaluate eosinophil degranulation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Myeloperoxidase-Containing Complex Regulates Neutrophil Elastase Release and Actin Dynamics During Netosis
    Cell Reports Article A Myeloperoxidase-Containing Complex Regulates Neutrophil Elastase Release and Actin Dynamics during NETosis Kathleen D. Metzler,1 Christian Goosmann,1 Aleksandra Lubojemska,2 Arturo Zychlinsky,1 and Venizelos Papayannopoulos1,2,* 1Department of Cellular Microbiology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin 10117, Germany 2Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, UK *Correspondence: [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2014.06.044 This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). SUMMARY Neutrophils ingest and kill microbes intracellularly through phagocytosis. During this process, microbes are enclosed in Neutrophils contain granules loaded with antimicro- a membrane compartment known as the phagosome, where bial proteins and are regarded as impermeable exposure to ROS and antimicrobial effectors eliminates patho- organelles that deliver cargo via membrane fusion. gens. The antimicrobial load of granules is delivered to the phag- However, during the formation of neutrophil extracel- osome by fusion of the granule and phagosomal membranes. lular traps (NETs), neutrophil elastase (NE) translo- In addition, granules can fuse with the plasma membrane to cates from the granules to the nucleus via an unknown release granule cargo extracellularly through degranulation. In contrast to this classical view, an antimicrobial strategy mechanism that does not involve membrane fusion that involves some unconventional cell biology was recently and requires reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, uncovered. Neutrophils were shown to release web-like struc- we show that the ROS triggers the dissociation of tures known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that NE from a membrane-associated complex into ensnare and kill a variety of microbes.
    [Show full text]
  • Defensin-Rich Granules of Human Neutrophils: Characterization of Secretory Properties
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1591 (2002) 29–35 www.bba-direct.com Defensin-rich granules of human neutrophils: characterization of secretory properties Mikkel Faurschou a,*, Ole E. Sørensen a, Anders H. Johnsen b, Jon Askaa c, Niels Borregaard a aThe Granulocyte Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, The National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Juliane Maries Vej 20, DK-2100 OE, Copenhagen, Denmark bDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, The National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 OE, Copenhagen, Denmark cDako A/S, Produktionsvej 42, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark Received 1 February 2002; received in revised form 15 April 2002; accepted 22 May 2002 Abstract The various granule subtypes of the human neutrophil differ in propensity for exocytosis. As a rule, granules formed at late stages of myelopoiesis have a higher secretory potential than granules formed in more immature myeloid cells. Neutrophils contain four closely related a- defensins, which are stored in a subset of azurophil granules. These defensin-rich azurophil granules (DRG) are formed later than defensin-poor azurophil granules, near the promyelocyte/myelocyte transition. In order to characterize the secretory properties of DRG, we developed a sensitive and accurate ELISA for detection of the neutrophil a-defensins HNP 1–3. This allowed us to quantify the exocytosis of a-defensins and markers of azurophil (myeloperoxidase), specific (lactoferrin) and gelatinase (gelatinase) granules from neutrophils stimulated with different secretagogues. The release pattern of a-defensins correlated perfectly with the release of myeloperoxidase and showed no resemblance to the exocytosis of lactoferrin or gelatinase.
    [Show full text]
  • LL-37, the Only Human Member of the Cathelicidin Family of Antimicrobial Peptides ⁎ Ulrich H.N
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1758 (2006) 1408–1425 www.elsevier.com/locate/bbamem Review LL-37, the only human member of the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial peptides ⁎ Ulrich H.N. Dürr, U.S. Sudheendra, Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy Biophysics Research Division and Department of Chemistry, 930 N. University Avenue, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA Received 12 January 2006; received in revised form 23 March 2006; accepted 24 March 2006 Available online 4 April 2006 Abstract Antimicrobial peptides and their precursor molecules form a central part of human and mammalian innate immunity. The underlying genes have been thoroughly investigated and compared for a considerable number of species, allowing for phylogenetic characterization. On the phenotypical side, an ever-increasing number of very varied and distinctive influences of antimicrobial peptides on the innate immune system are reported. The basic biophysical understanding of mammalian antimicrobial peptides, however, is still very limited. This is especially unsatisfactory since knowledge of structural properties will greatly help in the understanding of their immunomodulatory functions. The focus of this review article will be on LL-37, the only cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide found in humans. LL-37 is a 37-residue, amphipathic, helical peptide found throughout the body and has been shown to exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It is expressed in epithelial cells of the testis, skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory tract, and in leukocytes such as monocytes, neutrophils, T cells, NK cells, and B cells. It has been found to have additional defensive roles such as regulating the inflammatory response and chemo-attracting cells of the adaptive immune system to wound or infection sites, binding and neutralizing LPS, and promoting re-epthelialization and wound closure.
    [Show full text]
  • The Specific Granule Protein NGAL Is Localized to Azurophil Granules When Expressed in HL-60 Cells VJERONIQUE LE CABEC*T, JACK B
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 93, pp. 6454-6457, June 1996 Cell Biology Targeting of proteins to granule subsets is determined by timing and not by sorting: The specific granule protein NGAL is localized to azurophil granules when expressed in HL-60 cells VJERONIQUE LE CABEC*t, JACK B. COWLAND*, JERO CALAFATt, AND NIELS BORREGAARD* *The Granulocyte Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, Finsen Center, The National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet 4041, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; and tThe Cancer Institute of The Netherlands, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands Communicated by Seymour J. Klebanofft University of Washington, Seattle, WA, March 5, 1996 (recieved for review January 11, 1996) ABSTRACT The mechanism of protein targeting to indi- hypothesis (10), a crucial test of the hypothesis requires the vidual granules in cells that contain different subsets of demonstration that the localization of a given protein would storage granules is poorly understood. The neutrophil con- change predictably if the expression of the protein were tains two highly distinct major types of granules, the perox- changed from one stage of differentiation to another. idase positive (azurophil) granules and the peroxidase nega- To test this we changed the time of expression of a granule tive (specific and gelatinase) granules. We hypothesized that protein from the myelocyte stage to the promyelocyte stage by targeting of proteins to individual granule subsets may be transfecting the cDNA of the specific granule protein NGAL determined by the stage of maturation of the cell, at which the (11) into the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 under granule proteins are synthesized, rather than by individual control of a constitutively active cytomegalovirus promoter.
    [Show full text]