Purinergic Receptor Stimulation Reduces Cytotoxic Edema and Brain Infarcts in Mouse Induced by Photothrombosis by Energizing Glial Mitochondria

Treatments to improve the neurological outcome of edema and cerebral ischemic stroke are severely limited. Here, we present the first in vivo single cell images of cortical mouse astrocytes documenting the impact of single vessel photothrombosis on cytotoxic edema and cerebral infarcts. The volume of astrocytes expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) increased by over 600% within 3 hours of ischemia. The subsequent growth of cerebral infarcts was easily followed as the loss of GFP fluorescence as astrocytes lysed. Cytotoxic edema and the magnitude of ischemic lesions were significantly reduced by treatment with the purinergic ligand 2-methylthioladenosine 5′ diphosphate (2-MeSADP), an agonist with high specificity for the purinergic receptor type 1 isoform (P2Y1R). At 24 hours, cytotoxic edema in astrocytes was still apparent at the penumbra and preceded the cell lysis that defined the infarct. Delayed 2MeSADP treatment, 24 hours after the initial thrombosis, also significantly reduced cytotoxic edema and the continued growth of the brain infarction. Pharmacological and genetic evidence are presented indicating that 2MeSADP protection is mediated by enhanced astrocyte mitochondrial metabolism via increased inositol trisphosphate (IP3)-dependent Ca2+ release. We suggest that mitochondria play a critical role in astrocyte energy metabolism in the penumbra of ischemic lesions, where low ATP levels are widely accepted to be responsible for cytotoxic edema. Enhancement of this energy source could have similar protective benefits for a wide range of brain injuries

Epithelial antimicrobial peptides in host defense against infection

One component of host defense at mucosal surfaces seems to be epithelium-derived antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrobial peptides are classified on the basis of their structure and amino acid motifs. Peptides of the defensin, cathelicidin, and histatin classes are found in humans. In the airways, α-defensins and the cathelicidin LL-37/hCAP-18 originate from neutrophils. β-Defensins and LL-37/hCAP-18 are produced by the respiratory epithelium and the alveolar macrophage and secreted into the airway surface fluid. Beside their direct antimicrobial function, antimicrobial peptides have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with effects on epithelial and inflammatory cells, influencing such diverse processes as proliferation, immune induction, wound healing, cytokine release, chemotaxis, protease-antiprotease balance, and redox homeostasis. Further, antimicrobial peptides qualify as prototypes of innovative drugs that might be used as antibiotics, anti-lipopolysaccharide drugs, or modifiers of inflammation

Cationic Host Defence Peptides:Potential as Antiviral Therapeutics

There is a pressing need to develop new antiviral treatments; of the 60 drugs currently available, half are aimed at HIV-1 and the remainder target only a further six viruses. This demand has led to the emergence of possible peptide therapies, with 15 currently in clinical trials. Advancements in understanding the antiviral potential of naturally occurring host defence peptides highlights the potential of a whole new class of molecules to be considered as antiviral therapeutics. Cationic host defence peptides, such as defensins and cathelicidins, are important components of innate immunity with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capabilities. In recent years they have also been shown to be natural, broad-spectrum antivirals against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including HIV-1, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and herpes simplex virus. Here we review the antiviral properties of several families of these host peptides and their potential to inform the design of novel therapeutics

Granulocyte function in experimental human endotoxemia

Abstract The effects of endotoxin administration on in vitro granulocyte function were studied in normal man. Four healthy volunteers received an intravenous injection of Pseudomonas endotoxin, 0.1 mug/kg. Endotoxemia resulted in transient neutropenia followed by a rebound neutrophilia. The nadir of the granulocyte count occurred at about 1 hr and maximal neutrophilia 2–4 hr after endotoxin administration. Throughout this time period, neutrophil phagocytosis and killing of Candida albicans were normal, as were resting and postphagocytic glucose metabolism and leukocyte random migration. However, postendotoxin neutrophils demonstrated a markedly decreased chemotactic response in Boyden chambers. The defect was maximal 1 hr after endotoxin administration and persisted 3–4 hr. These observations suggest that, in addition to neutropenia, endotoxin can transiently cause a chemotactic defect or select for a population of circulating neutrophils with an impairment of chemotactic activity.</jats:p

Granulocyte function in experimental human endotoxemia

The effects of endotoxin administration on in vitro granulocyte function were studied in normal man. Four healthy volunteers received an intravenous injection of Pseudomonas endotoxin, 0.1 mug/kg. Endotoxemia resulted in transient neutropenia followed by a rebound neutrophilia. The nadir of the granulocyte count occurred at about 1 hr and maximal neutrophilia 2–4 hr after endotoxin administration. Throughout this time period, neutrophil phagocytosis and killing of Candida albicans were normal, as were resting and postphagocytic glucose metabolism and leukocyte random migration. However, postendotoxin neutrophils demonstrated a markedly decreased chemotactic response in Boyden chambers. The defect was maximal 1 hr after endotoxin administration and persisted 3–4 hr. These observations suggest that, in addition to neutropenia, endotoxin can transiently cause a chemotactic defect or select for a population of circulating neutrophils with an impairment of chemotactic activity.</jats:p

The progeny of a single progenitor cell can develop characteristics of either a tissue or an alveolar macrophage

Abstract Alveolar and peritoneal macrophages differ in their energy metabolism. Alveolar macrophages are mainly aerobic whereas peritoneal macrophages are mainly anaerobic in their energy generation. We investigated the question of whether these differences in metabolism are preprogrammed in subsets of macrophage precursors in the bone marrow, or develop in proliferating cells as a consequence of exposure to different tissue environments. The progeny of single mouse macrophage progenitor cells were grown in vitro for 4 days; the resultant colonies were divided into two roughly equal populations, which were cultured in either a high or low oxygen environment corresponding to that of the alveoli or tissues. Following 4 days incubation at 5% or 20% O2, the activities of the two glycolytic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) were two- to threefold higher in the half of the colonies grown in the low O2 environment, whereas the activity of the oxidative phosphorylative enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was two- to threefold higher in the half colony grown in the aerobic environment. Re-exposure of the cells from the low O2 environment to high O2 conditions for an additional 4 days caused a rise in the GDH activity and a decrease in the LDH and PK. The recovery of the GDH activity after the re-exposure was time dependent. Our results support the theory that macrophages arising from a single progenitor cell can develop different metabolic features depending on the O2 environment in which they mature. A single precursor cell can give rise to mature cells with metabolic characteristic of either alveolar or tissue macrophages.</jats:p

The progeny of a single progenitor cell can develop characteristics of either a tissue or an alveolar macrophage

Alveolar and peritoneal macrophages differ in their energy metabolism. Alveolar macrophages are mainly aerobic whereas peritoneal macrophages are mainly anaerobic in their energy generation. We investigated the question of whether these differences in metabolism are preprogrammed in subsets of macrophage precursors in the bone marrow, or develop in proliferating cells as a consequence of exposure to different tissue environments. The progeny of single mouse macrophage progenitor cells were grown in vitro for 4 days; the resultant colonies were divided into two roughly equal populations, which were cultured in either a high or low oxygen environment corresponding to that of the alveoli or tissues. Following 4 days incubation at 5% or 20% O2, the activities of the two glycolytic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) were two- to threefold higher in the half of the colonies grown in the low O2 environment, whereas the activity of the oxidative phosphorylative enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was two- to threefold higher in the half colony grown in the aerobic environment. Re-exposure of the cells from the low O2 environment to high O2 conditions for an additional 4 days caused a rise in the GDH activity and a decrease in the LDH and PK. The recovery of the GDH activity after the re-exposure was time dependent. Our results support the theory that macrophages arising from a single progenitor cell can develop different metabolic features depending on the O2 environment in which they mature. A single precursor cell can give rise to mature cells with metabolic characteristic of either alveolar or tissue macrophages.</jats:p