Neutrophils, Fast and Strong

The history of medicine is also the history of our understanding of the role of neutrophils in protecting our bodies [...

Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Apoptosis Is Accelerated by Sulfatides or Sulfatides-Treated Salmonella Typhimurium Bacteria

Neutrophils die by apoptosis following activation and uptake of microbes or enter apoptosis spontaneously at the end of their lifespan if they do not encounter a pathogen. Here we report that sulfatides or sulfatides-treated Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria accelerated human neutrophil apoptosis. Neutrophil apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. Sulfatides caused prominent increase in percentage of apoptotic cells after 2.5 hrs of incubation. Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria by themselves did not affect the basal level of apoptosis in neutrophil population. When neutrophils were added to S. Typhimurium “opsonized” by sulfatides, apoptotic index significantly increased, whereas the number of phagocyting cells was not influenced. Sulfatides’ proapoptotic effect was strongly dependent on the activity of β-galactosidase; inhibition of this enzyme impaired its potency to accelerate apoptosis. These data support the mechanism of neutrophil apoptosis triggering based on sulfatides’ ability to accumulate in intracellular compartments and mediate successive increase in ceramide content resulting from β-galactosidase activity

Role of Mitochondria in the Regulation of Effector Functions of Granulocytes

Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) are the most abundant circulating cells in the innate immune system. Circulating granulocytes, primarily neutrophils, can cross the endothelial barrier and activate various effector mechanisms to combat invasive pathogens. Eosinophils and basophils also play an important role in allergic reactions and antiparasitic defense. Granulocytes also regulate the immune response, wound healing, and tissue repair by releasing of various cytokines and lipid mediators. The effector mechanisms of granulocytes include the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), degranulation, phagocytosis, and the formation of DNA-containing extracellular traps. Although all granulocytes are primarily glycolytic and have only a small number of mitochondria, a growing body of evidence suggests that mitochondria are involved in all effector functions as well as in the production of cytokines and lipid mediators and in apoptosis. It has been shown that the production of mitochondrial ROS controls signaling pathways that mediate the activation of granulocytes by various stimuli. In this review, we will briefly discuss the data on the role of mitochondria in the regulation of effector and other functions of granulocytes

Fine Regulation of Neutrophil Oxidative Status and Apoptosis by Ceruloplasmin and Its Derivatives

Timely neutrophil apoptosis is an essential part of the resolution phase of acute inflammation. Ceruloplasmin, an acute-phase protein, which is the predominant copper-carrying protein in the blood, has been suggested to have a marked effect on neutrophil life span. The present work is a comparative study on the effects of intact holo-ceruloplasmin, its copper-free (apo-) and partially proteolyzed forms, and synthetic free peptides RPYLKVFNPR (883–892) and RRPYLKVFNPRR (882–893) on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL, neutrophil) oxidant status and apoptosis. The most pronounced effect on both investigated parameters was found with copper-containing samples, namely, intact and proteolyzed proteins. Both effectively reduced spontaneous and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced extracellular and intracellular accumulation of superoxide radicals, but induced a sharp increase in the oxidation of intracellular 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein upon short exposure. Therefore, intact and proteolyzed ceruloplasmin have both anti- and pro-oxidant effects on PMNLs wherein the latter effect is diminished by TNF-α and lactoferrin. Additionally, all compounds investigated were determined to be inhibitors of delayed spontaneous apoptosis. Intact enzyme retained its pro-survival activity, whereas proteolytic degradation converts ceruloplasmin from a mild inhibitor to a potent activator of TNF-α-induced neutrophil apoptosis