H1 and PAR2 receptors enhance delivery of immune-competent cells and molecules by interrupting E-cadherin adhesion in epithelia.

The lung's epithelial surface is at the same time vitally exchanging gas with the environment and acting as a barrier that protects the organism from the environment. We hypothesized that activation of epithelial-cell G-protein-coupled receptors for immune-defense molecules would temporarily interrupt cadherin-dependent cell-cell adhesion of epithelial cells and thereby focally and temporarily compromise the epithelial barrier to facilitate delivery of other immune molecules and cells to challenged sites. Activation of type 1 histamine or type 2 PAR receptors on the basolateral surface of primary airway epithelial cells or L-cells expressing E-cadherin interrupted cadherin adhesion and caused approximately a 50% decrease in the epithelial barrier for 2-3 minutes. Given basic biochemical observations of others, we further hypothesized that activation of the receptors altered the barrier by phosphorylating tyrosines on an essential cadherin-complex component, beta-catenin. Y-F mutations in beta-catenin completely blocked the effects of activating the same receptors on cadherin-dependent adhesion and on the epithelial barrier. Hence, G-protein-coupled receptors responding to immune-defense molecules temporarily and focally interrupt the lung epithelial barrier by compromising cadherin-based adhesion.

Compromised E-cadherin adhesion and epithelial barrier function with activation of G protein-coupled receptors is rescued by Y-to-F mutations in beta-catenin.

Activation of the type 1 histamine (H1) or the type 2 protease-activated (PAR-2) G protein-coupled receptors interrupts E-cadherin adhesion and decreases the transepithelial resistance (TER) of epithelium. Several reports suggest that cadherin adhesive function depends on the association of cadherin with beta-catenin and that this association is regulated by phosphorylation of tyrosines in beta-catenin. We tested the hypothesis that loss of cadherin adhesion and compromise of TER on activation of the H1 or PAR-2 receptor is due to phosphorylation of tyrosines in beta-catenin. L cells were stably transfected to express E-cadherin (L-E-cad cells) and H1 (L-H1-E-cad cells). L cells and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells constitutively express PAR-2. Stably transfected L-E-cad, L-H1-E-cad, and MDCK cells were also stably transfected with FLAG-tagged wild-type (WT) or mutant beta-catenin, converting tyrosine 142, 489, or 654 to the nonphosphorylatable mimetic, phenylalanine (WT, Y142F, Y489F, or Y654F). Activation of H1 or PAR-2 interrupted adhesion to an immobilized E-cadherin-Fc fusion protein of L-H1-E-cad, L-E-cad, and MDCK cells expressing WT or Y142F beta-catenin but did not interrupt adhesion of L-H1-E-cad, L-E-cad, and MDCK cells expressing the Y489F or Y654F mutant beta-catenins. PAR-2 activation decreased the TER of monolayers of MDCK cells expressing WT or Y142F beta-catenin 40-45%. However, PAR-2 activation did not decrease the TER of monolayers of MDCK cells expressing Y489F or Y654F beta-catenin. The protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B binds to the cadherin cytoplasmic domain and dephosphorylates beta-catenin. Inhibition of PTP1B interrupted adhesion to E-cadherin-Fc of MDCK cells expressing WT beta-catenin but did not affect the adhesion of MDCK cells expressing Y489F or Y654F beta-catenin. Similarly, inhibition of PTP1B compromised the TER of MDCK cells expressing WT beta-catenin but did not affect the TER of MDCK cells expressing Y489F or Y654F beta-catenin. We conclude that phosphorylation of tyrosines 489 and 654 in beta-catenin is a necessary step in the process by which G protein-coupled H1 and PAR-2 receptors interrupt E-cadherin adhesion. We also conclude that activation of PAR-2 has no effect on the TER without first interrupting E-cadherin adhesion.

Paracellular permeability restricts airway epithelial responses to selectively allow activation by mediators at the basolateral surface.

Respiratory pathogens and toxins often assault the lung from the airway lumen. Airway epithelia may initiate and amplify inflammation in response to these attacks, but under certain conditions confinement of inflammation to the airway lumen may be beneficial to the host. Accordingly, we hypothesized that airway epithelial polarity allows different responses to basolateral vs apical stimuli that may modulate inflammation. Using primary human airway epithelial cells differentiated at an air-liquid interface in culture, we found that responses to several cytokines required basolateral mediator application. In contrast, responses to Haemophilus influenzae occurred after either basolateral or apical interaction with airway epithelia. Experiments focused on IFN-gamma receptor polarity confirmed its predominant basolateral location in cultured airway epithelia as well as in normal human airway tissue. Furthermore, physical and pharmacologic disruption of barrier function in airway epithelia allowed responses to apical application of IFN-gamma and other cytokines. These in vitro studies directly correlated with experiments in mice in which an airway epithelial response to IFN-gamma injected into the airway lumen was seen only after disruption of barrier function. The results indicate that airway epithelia with intact barrier function restrict inflammatory responses by limitation of cell activation through requiring interaction of selected mediators with the basolateral surface. However, loss of barrier integrity allows epithelial responses to these mediators if located in the airway lumen to amplify airway defenses.

Cell-cell adhesion in lung endothelium.

Homotypic cell-cell adhesion is essential for tissue and organ development, remodeling, regeneration, and physiological function. Whereas a significant number of homotypic cell-cell adhesion molecules have been identified, much more is known about those concentrated in epithelia than in endothelia. Among the endothelial cell-cell adhesion molecules, very little is known that is specific to endothelium in the pulmonary and bronchial circulations. This review focuses primarily on homotypic cell-cell adhesion molecules that are or are likely to be important in lung endothelium.

PAR2 activation interrupts E-cadherin adhesion and compromises the airway epithelial barrier: protective effect of beta-agonists.

The airway epithelium is an important barrier between the environment and subepithelial tissues. The epithelium is also divided into functionally restricted apical and basolateral domains, and this restriction is dependent on the elements of the barrier. The protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) receptor is expressed in airway epithelium, and its activation initiates multiple effects including enhanced airway inflammation and reactivity. We hypothesized that activation of PAR2 would interrupt E-cadherin adhesion and compromise the airway epithelial barrier. The PAR2-activating peptide (PAR2-AP, SLIGRL) caused an immediate approximately 50% decrease in the transepithelial resistance of primary human airway epithelium that persisted for 6-10 min. The decrease in resistance was accompanied by an increase in mannitol flux across the epithelium and occurred in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance receptor (CFTR) epithelium pretreated with amiloride to block Na and Cl conductances, confirming that the decrease in resistance represented an increase in paracellular conductance. In parallel experiments, activation of PAR2 interrupted the adhesion of E-cadherin-expressing L cells and of primary airway epithelial cells to an immobilized E-cadherin extracellular domain, confirming the hypothesis that activation of PAR2 interrupts E-cadherin adhesion. Selective interruption of E-cadherin adhesion with antibody to E-cadherin decreased the transepithelial resistance of primary airway epithelium by >80%. Pretreatment of airway epithelium or the E-cadherin-expressing L cells with the long-acting beta-agonist salmeterol prevented PAR2 activation from interrupting E-cadherin adhesion and compromising the airway epithelial barrier. Activation of PAR2 interrupts E-cadherin adhesion and compromises the airway epithelial barrier.

Histamine selectively interrupts VE-cadherin adhesion independently of capacitive calcium entry.

Histamine is an important agent of innate immunity, transiently increasing the flux of immune-competent molecules from the vascular space to the tissues and then allowing rapid restoration of the integrity of the endothelial barrier. In previous work we found that histamine alters the endothelial barrier by disrupting cell-cell adhesion and identified VE-cadherin as an essential participant in this process. The previous work did not determine whether histamine directly interrupted VE-cadherin adhesion, whether the effects of histamine were selective for cadherin adhesion, or whether capacitive calcium flux across the cell membrane was necessary for the effects of histamine on cell-cell adhesion. In the current work we found that histamine directly interrupts adhesion of L cells expressing the type 1 histamine (H1) receptor and VE-cadherin to a VE-cadherin-Fc fusion protein. In contrast, integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin of the same L cells expressing the H1 receptor was not affected by histamine, demonstrating that the effects of histamine are selective for cadherin adhesion. Some of the effects of many edemagenic agonists on endothelium are dependent on the capacitive flux of calcium across the endothelial cell membrane. Blocking capacitive calcium flux with LaCl3 did not prevent histamine from interrupting VE-cadherin adhesion of transfected L cells, nor did it prevent histamine from interrupting cell-cell adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These data support the contentions that histamine directly and selectively interrupts cadherin adhesion and this effect on cadherin adhesion is independent of capacitive calcium flux.

Histamine stimulates phosphorylation of adherens junction proteins and alters their link to vimentin.

Histamine increases microvascular permeability by creating small transitory (100-400 nm) gaps between adjacent endothelial cells at sites of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin-based adhesion. We examined the effects of histamine on the proteins within the VE-cadherin-based adherens junction in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells. VE-cadherin is linked not only by beta- and alpha-catenin to cortical actin but also by gamma-catenin to the intermediate filament vimentin. In mature human umbilical vein cultures, the VE-cadherin immunoprecipitate contained equivalent amounts of alpha- and beta-catenin, 130% as much beta- as gamma-catenin, and 50% as much actin as vimentin. Within 60 s, histamine decreased the fraction of VE-cadherin in the insoluble portion of the cell lysate by 35 +/- 1.5%. At the same time, histamine decreased the amount of vimentin that immunoprecipitated with VE-cadherin by 50 +/- 6%. Histamine did not affect the amount of actin or the amount of alpha-, beta-, or gamma-catenin that immunoprecipitated with VE-cadherin. Within 60 s, histamine simulated a doubling in the phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and beta- and gamma-catenin. The VE-cadherin immunoprecipitate contained kinase activity that phosphorylated VE-cadherin and gamma-catenin in vitro.

Human recombinant activated protein C in meningococcal sepsis.

A 19-year-old woman presented with purpura fulminans and septic shock; subsequently, progressive coagulopathy, widespread purpura fulminans associated with meningococcemia, severe shock, respiratory, and renal failure developed. This clinical course was associated with depletion of functional protein C levels to < 5%. We describe her clinical course and therapy with human recombinant activated protein C.