Number Of Apoptotic Neutrophils Research Articles

Delayed apoptosis of buffalo neutrophil during mastitis and metritis

Mastitis and metritis are the common inflammatory diseases of buffalo and result huge economic losses to the small-scale farmers. Neutrophils are recruited during inflammation and cleared from site of inflammation by apoptosis to prevent further tissue damage. However, data are lacking on this aspect in buffalo. Hence, the study was aimed to determine the viability and apoptosis of neutrophils of buffalo during mastitis and metritis. Peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy, mastitis and metritis group (n=5, each group). Neutrophils were isolated and maintained up to 48 hr in RPMI-1640. The viability of neutrophils at different time intervals (6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hr) was determined using trypan blue dye exclusion method. DNA Laddering, light microscopy, caspase-3 and caspase-9 colorimetric assays were used to observe the apoptosis. Freshly isolated neutrophils showed ≥ 97% purity and ≥ 92% viability. Healthy group showed decrease (p<0.05) in viable neutrophils 12hr and onwards post-incubation. The number of apoptotic neutrophils was lower (p<0.05) at 36hr and onwards post-incubation in mastitis group and at 48hr post-incubation in metritis group as compared to control group. DNA fragmentation was observed after 24hr post-incubation in healthy group and was absent in mastitis and metritis groups suggesting the delayed apoptosis during mastitis and metritis. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity did not show any change in healthy group, however, there was significant increase at 24hr and 36hr post-incubation in mastitis and metritis group. Taken together, data suggest delayed apoptosis in mastitis and metritis.

Apolipoprotein L Expression Correlates with Neutrophil Cell Death in Critically Ill Patients.

Delayed neutrophil apoptosis has been demonstrated in sepsis and may contribute to organ damage. It has recently been proposed that apolipoprotein L (ApoL) may be involved in programmed cell death, but the expression and functions of ApoLs in leukocytes (especially neutrophils) during sepsis and other inflammatory conditions are currently unknown. In this prospective observational study in a 36-bed university hospital medicosurgical intensive care unit (ICU), we included 78 adult ICU patients with (n = 41) or without (n = 37) sepsis and 47 healthy volunteers. We analyzed ApoL mRNA expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in whole blood leukocytes and protein expression in CD15 isolated neutrophils using Western blotting. Neutrophil apoptosis was assessed using the APO-BRDU method. Apolipoprotein L mRNA was downregulated in whole blood leukocytes and neutrophils in ICU patients compared with in healthy volunteers, and this effect translated at the protein level as indicated by Western blot analysis of neutrophils. There was a negative correlation between ApoL expression in neutrophils and C-reactive protein levels and a positive correlation between the number of apoptotic neutrophils and mRNA levels of ApoL1 and ApoL2. The degree of neutrophil apoptosis in critically ill patients is therefore correlated with modified expression profiles of ApoLs.

Resolvin E1 promotes neutrophil apoptosis and accelerates resolution of acute pulmonary inflammation

We have reported that the anti‐inflammatory pro‐resolving lipid mediator resolvin E1 (RvE1) biosynthesized from the ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid promotes neutrophil apoptosis in vitro. We have investigated the impact of RvE1 treatment on the resolution of inflammation in 3 murine models of neutrophil mediated pulmonary inflammation, E. coli pneumonia, E. coli peritonitis‐ and carrageenan plus myeloperoxidase‐evoked acute lung injury. Treatment of mice with RvE1 at near the peak of inflammation accelerated the resolution of established inflammation in all models. RvE1 markedly reduced neutrophil accumulation in the airways, and increased the numbers of monocytes/macrophages concomitant with increases in the number of apoptotic neutrophils and macrophages containing apoptotic bodies. RvE1 also attenuated pulmonary edema, IL‐6 production and tissue injury. Moreover, RvE1 treatment also reduced the mortality rate in the E. coli peritonitis model Coadministration of the pan‐caspase inhibitor zVAD‐fmk with RvE1 rendered animals resistant to treatment with RvE1. Our results demonstrate that in addition to blocking neutrophil trafficking, RvE1 promotion of apoptosis is critical for efficient and timely removal of emigrated neutrophils to enhance the resolution of acute lung injury and other inflammatory pathologies (Grant support: CIHR MOP‐97742).

S57 The Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Regulating the Severity and Duration of Murine Lung Injury

IntroductionVitamin D has been shown to modulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Patients deficient have increased susceptibility to both infection and autoimmunity. Our research suggests patients with, or...

Poractant alfa (Curosurf®) increases phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages in vivo

BackgroundClearance of apoptotic neutrophils in the lung is an essential process to limit inflammation, since they could become a pro-inflammatory stimulus themselves. The clearance is partially mediated by alveolar macrophages, which phagocytose these apoptotic cells. The phagocytosis of apoptotic immune cells by monocytes in vitro has been shown to be augmented by several constituents of pulmonary surfactant, e.g. phospholipids and hydrophobic surfactant proteins. In this study, we assessed the influence of exogenous poractant alfa (Curosurf®) instillation on the in vivo phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages.MethodsPoractant alfa (200 mg/kg) was instilled intratracheally in the lungs of three months old adult male C57/Black 6 mice, followed by apoptotic neutrophil instillation. Bronchoalveloar lavage was performed and alveolar macrophages and neutrophils were counted. Phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils was quantified by determining the number of apoptotic neutrophils per alveolar macrophages.ResultsExogenous surfactant increased the number of alveolar macrophages engulfing apoptotic neutrophils 2.6 fold. The phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils was increased in the presence of exogenous surfactant by a 4.7 fold increase in phagocytosed apoptotic neutrophils per alveolar macrophage.ConclusionsWe conclude that the anti-inflammatory properties of surfactant therapy may be mediated in part by increased numbers of alveolar macrophages and increased phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages.

Resolution of neutrophilic inflammation by H2O2 in antigen‐induced arthritis

Neutrophil accumulation contributes to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. This study was undertaken to examine the ability of H2O2 to influence neutrophilic inflammation in a model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in mice. AIA was induced by administration of antigen into the knee joints of previously immunized mice. Neutrophil accumulation was measured by counting neutrophils in the synovial cavity and assaying myeloperoxidase activity in the tissue surrounding the mouse knee joint. Apoptosis was determined by morphologic and molecular techniques. The role of H2O2 was studied using mice that do not produce reactive oxygen species (gp91phox-/- mice) and drugs that enhance the generation or enhance the degradation of H2O2. Antigen challenge of immunized mice induced neutrophil accumulation that peaked at 12-24 hours after challenge. H2O2 production peaked at 24 hours, after which time, the inflammation resolved. Neutrophil recruitment was similar in wild-type and gp91phox-/- mice, but there was delayed resolution in gp91phox-/- mice or after administration of catalase. In contrast, administration of H2O2 or superoxide dismutase (SOD) resolved neutrophilic inflammation. The resolution of inflammation induced by SOD or H2O2 was accompanied by an increase in the number of apoptotic neutrophils. Apoptosis was associated with an increase in Bax and caspase 3 cleavage and was secondary to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation. Our findings indicate that levels of H2O2 increase during neutrophil influx and are necessary for the natural resolution of neutrophilic inflammation. Mechanistically, enhanced levels of H2O2 (endogenous or exogenous) inhibit p-Akt/NF-κB and induce apoptosis of migrated neutrophils. Modulation of H2O2 production may represent a novel strategy for controlling neutrophilic inflammation in the joints.

Signaling via Macrophage G2A Enhances Efferocytosis of Dying Neutrophils by Augmentation of Rac Activity

Phosphatidylserine (PS) and oxidized PS species have been identified as key ligands on apoptotic cells important for their recognition and removal (efferocytosis) by phagocytes, a requisite step for resolution of inflammation. We have recently demonstrated that lysophosphatidylserine (lyso-PS) generated and retained on neutrophils following short term activation of the NADPH oxidase in vitro and in vivo enhanced their clearance via signaling through the macrophage G-protein-coupled receptor G2A. Here, we investigated the signaling pathway downstream of G2A. Lyso-PS, either made endogenously in apoptosing neutrophils or supplied exogenously in liposomes along with lyso-PS(neg) apoptotic cells, signaled to macrophages in a G2A-dependent manner for their enhanced production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) via a calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A2/cyclooxygenase-mediated mechanism. Subsequent signaling by PGE2 via EP2 receptors activated macrophage adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A. These events, in turn, culminated in enhanced activity of Rac1, resulting in an increase in both the numbers of macrophages efferocytosing apoptotic cells and the numbers of cells ingested per macrophage. These data were surprising in light of previous reports demonstrating that signaling by PGE2 and adenylyl cyclase activation are associated with macrophage deactivation and inhibition of apoptotic cell uptake. Further investigation revealed that the impact of this pathway, either the enhancement or inhibition of efferocytosis, was exquisitely sensitive to concentration effects of these intermediaries. Together, these data support the hypothesis that lyso-PS presented on the surface of activated and dying neutrophils provides a tightly controlled, proresolution signal for high capacity clearance of neutrophils in acute inflammation.

Effects of surfactant TA on adherence and structure of human peripheral blood neutrophils

Artificial surfactant is used to treat patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome; we studied its effects on neutrophil function. Neutrophils were isolated from healthy volunteers and their adherence to plastic surfaces was used as an index of their function. Surfactant TA (S-TA, 0.16-5 mg/mL) dose-dependently inhibited neutrophil adherence stimulated by n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine, phorbol myristate acetate, and tumor necrosis factor. This inhibition was observed whether untreated S-TA or heated S-TA was used. Electron microscopy revealed an increase in the number of apoptotic neutrophils with pyknotic nuclei and smooth cell surfaces after treatment with S-TA which suggests that neutrophils apoptosis was increased. The number of apoptotic neutrophils increased with increasing time of incubation with S-TA, and was also high in the presence of G-CSF, which inhibits neutrophil apoptosis. These results show that S-TA can inhibit neutrophil function, and they suggest that S-TA therapy for the adult respiratory distress syndrome not only corrects the surface-tension abnormality, but can also inhibit infiltration of neutrophils.

Galectin-3 functions as an opsonin and enhances the macrophage clearance of apoptotic neutrophils

Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside binding, endogenous lectin, takes part in various inflammatory events and is produced in substantial amounts at inflammatory foci. We investigated whether extracellular galectin-3 could participate in the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages, a process of crucial importance for termination of acute inflammation. Using human leukocytes, we show that exogenously added galectin-3 increased the uptake of apoptotic neutrophils by monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Both the proportion of MDM that engulfed apoptotic prey and the number of apoptotic neutrophils that each MDM engulfed were enhanced in the presence of galectin-3. The effect was lactose-inhibitable and required galectin-3 affinity for N-acetyllactosamine, a saccharide typically found on cell surface glycoproteins, since a mutant lacking this activity was without effect. The enhanced uptake relied on the presence of galectin-3 during the cellular interaction and was paralleled by lectin binding to apoptotic cells as well as MDM in a lactose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that galectin-3 functions as a bridging molecule between phagocyte and apoptotic prey, acting as an opsonin. The process of clearance, whereby apoptotic neutrophils are removed by macrophages, is crucial for the resolution of acute inflammation and our data imply that the increased levels of galectin-3 often found at inflammatory sites could potently affect this process.

Acute Tobacco Smoke-Induced Airways Inflammation in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Common laboratory rats and mice fail to develop persistent, progressive pulmonary inflammation found in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a result of tobacco smoke exposure. We hypothesized that spontaneously hypertensive rats would be more susceptible than normal Wistar Kyoto rats to acute tobacco smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation due to impaired apoptosis. Spontaneously hypertensive rats display systemic oxidative stress, inflammation, hypercoagulation, and immunosupression, similar to humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar Kyoto rats were exposed whole-body to tobacco smoke (total particulate concentration 75–85 mg/m3) or filtered air for 6 h/day for 2 or 15 days (3 days/wk). Tobacco smoke caused an increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid neutrophils at both time points in each strain. Significantly more neutrophils were noted in spontaneously hypertensive rats at 15 days compared to Wistar Kyoto rats. There was a trend of increase for macrophages in spontaneously hypertensive rats at both time points (significant at 2 days). TUNEL assay detected apoptotic cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue sections. The number of apoptotic neutrophils in airway walls and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid increased at 2 days in both strains, but at 15 days the effect was much lower in spontaneously hypertensive rats than in Wistar Kyoto rats. Tobacco smoke induces a greater inflammatory response associated with lower apoptotic neutrophils in the lungs of spontaneously hypertensive rats compared to Wistar Kyoto rats. The spontaneously hypertensive rat may be a more relevant animal model of acute tobacco smoke-induced airway inflammation than other laboratory rats.

Accelerated apoptosis in SLE neutrophils cultured with anti-dsDNA antibody isolated from SLE patient serum: a pilot study

Increased numbers of apoptotic neutrophils are found in SLE, related to disease activity and levels of anti-dsDNA antibody. The mechanism of increased apoptosis is not clear, but anti-dsDNA antibody has been shown to induce apoptosis in neutrophils from normal subjects and in certain cell lines. In this study, polyclonal anti-dsDNA antibody was isolated from the serum of a patient with active SLE, and was shown to substantially accelerate apoptosis in neutrophils from SLE patients as compared with neutrophils from healthy control or rheumatoid arthritis subjects.

Clozapine Induces Oxidative Stress and Proapoptotic Gene Expression in Neutrophils of Schizophrenic Patients

The present study examined cellular effects of the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine on blood cells of treated patients with and without clozapine-induced agranulocytosis (CA). Blood from one patient who commenced clozapine treatment was examined at weekly intervals for 128 days. Olanzapine-treated (n = 5) and polymedicated (n = 14) schizophrenic patients, as well as healthy subjects (n = 19) and septic shock patients (n = 8), were studied for comparison. We observed dramatically increased numbers of native neutrophils stained for superoxide anion production (P < or = 0.005, n = 10) and significantly elevated expression levels of the proapoptotic genes p53 (P < or = 0.020), bax alpha (P < or = 0.001), and bik (P < or = 0.002) in all tested non-CA patients (n = 19) and CA patients (n = 4). In non-CA patients, the expression of these genes did not correlate to the percentage of apoptotic neutrophils (2.0% +/- 1.3%), but in CA patients about 37% of the neutrophils show morphologic signs of apoptosis (P < or = 0.001). Under G-CSF therapy of CA, the number of apoptotic neutrophils and the expression of the proapoptotic genes decreased significantly. In conclusion, high production of reactive oxygen species in neutrophils of clozapine-treated patients, together with increased expression of proapoptotic genes, suggests that neutrophils are predisposed to apoptosis in schizophrenic patients under clozapine therapy. The correlation between drug and proapoptotic markers was highest for clozapine and bax alpha as well as superoxide anion radicals. This indicates oxidative mitochondrial stress in neutrophils of clozapine-treated patients which probably contributes to the induction of apoptosis and sudden loss of neutrophils and their precursors in CA patients.

Kinetics of pulmonary neutrophil recruitment and clearance in a natural and spontaneously resolving model of airway inflammation

Neutrophil apoptosis and phagocytic clearance have been proposed as key determinants affecting the resolution of airway inflammation. Objective To determine the kinetics of neutrophil priming, recruitment, activation and subsequent clearance in a naturally occurring equine disease model of neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation. A 5 h mouldy hay/straw challenge in hypersensitive horses induced transient pulmonary dysfunction lasting 4 days. At 24 h circulating neutrophils were primed and displayed delayed rates of spontaneous apoptosis in vitro. Neutrophil numbers in the airspaces peaked at 5 h and then fell abruptly, returning to pre-challenge levels by 4 days. Airspace neutrophils demonstrated increased respiratory burst activity compared with circulating cells and equine neutrophil elastase 2A concentrations increased in parallel with neutrophil numbers indicating in vivo priming and degranulation. The number of apoptotic neutrophils and proportion of alveolar macrophages containing phagocytosed apoptotic neutrophils increased significantly at 24 h and 4 days post-challenge corresponding to the period of most rapid neutrophil clearance. This is the first demonstration of spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis and phagocytic removal in a natural disease model of airway inflammation and provides critical kinetic data to support the hypothesis that this clearance pathway plays a central role in the resolution of neutrophilic inflammation.

Decreased Neutrophil Apoptosis in Patients with Sepsis is Related to the Activation of NF-κB

Background : Neutrophil-mediated inflammation is usually self-limiting, because neutrophils have a remarkably short life span. Prolonged neutrophil survival, which is caused by decreased spontaneous apoptosis, leads to persistent inflammation in sepsis. Because many inflammatory cytokines, which generate signals that delay apoptosis, are regulated by nuclear factor- κB transcription factor, we hypothesized that nuclear factor-κB might be related to the reduced neutrophil apoptosis observed in sepsis. Methods : Neutrophils of healthy volunteers and sepsis patients were freshly isolated from venous blood. Neutrophil apoptosis was assayed with two approaches : by counting apoptotic cells under a microscope and by flow cytometry using Annexin V. The activity of nuclear factor-κB was assessed by immunofluorescent staining or electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis was measured by western blot assay. Results : We confirmed reduced spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis in patients with sepsis. The number of apoptotic neutrophils in patients with sepsis increased to the level of that in healthy controls after

The dynamics of morphological changes during in vitro aging of bovine virgin mammary gland neutrophils

The present study was an in vitro analysis of the dynamics of bovine mammary gland neutrophil apop&amp;shy;tosis based on the detection of morphological changes. The neutrophils were isolated from mammary glands of five virgin heifers. The mammary glands were lavaged, the suspensions were then bacteriologically examined, and total and differential cell counts were made. The cells were cultivated in vitro for 4 hours. After 2, 3 and 4 hours of cultivation, they were panoptically stained, and the proportions of apoptotic neutrophils and trypan blue positive neutrophils were determined. Neutrophil apoptosis and impaired cytoplasmic membrane integrity of neutrophils were already observed in the mammary gland lavages (11.9% and 0.8%, respectively). During the cultivation, a progressive increase in the number of apoptotic neutrophils in various stages of apoptosis &amp;ndash; karyopyknosis, zeiosis and apoptotic bodies &amp;ndash; was observed. Karyopyknotic neutrophils represented a dominant part of the apoptotic neutrophil population in the course of the whole cultivation. The most intensive increase was observed in zeiosis, whereas the levels of apoptotic bodies remained the same. After 4 hours of cultivation, 31.7% apoptotic neutrophils and 9.8% trypan blue positive neutrophils (i.e. Secondary necrotic cells) were found. The results of this work show that spontaneous apoptosis and secondary neutrophil necrosis must be taken into account during in vitro cultivations of bovine mammary gland neutrophils.

Human blood and synovial fluid neutrophils cultured in vitro undergo programmed cell death which is promoted by the addition of synovial fluid.

To assess the influence of inflammatory synovial fluid (SF) on apoptosis of joint and blood neutrophils with particular reference to levels of colony stimulating factors (CSF) contained therein. Neutrophils were separated from fresh synovial fluid and from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation. Apoptosis was assayed by light microscope morphology and DNA degradation. CSFs were assayed using bone marrow bioassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays for granulocyte (G-) and granulocyte macrophage (GM-) CSF. Separated neutrophils were cultured in vitro and exposed to: varying concentrations of SF in which CSF levels were measured, recombinant G-CSF and GM-CSF, and hyaluronic acid control solutions. Numbers of apoptotic neutrophils and CSF levels were also measured in fresh SF samples. The addition of autologous or heterologous inflammatory SF to blood or joint cavity neutrophils cultured in vitro caused a significant dose dependent increase in the percentage of cells becoming apoptotic with time as measured morphologically and confirmed by DNA degradation. The effect bore no relationship to levels of CSF in joint fluid, despite our finding that GM-CSF produced inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis in vitro. These data suggest that SF contains a factor or factors capable of directly or indirectly promoting neutrophil apoptosis and normally powerful enough to overcome the apoptosis inhibiting effects of cytokines such as GM-CSF at concentrations usually found in inflammatory synovial fluids.