Effects of particulate and soluble cadmium species on biochemical and functional parameters in cultured murine macrophages.

Cultured murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) were used to evaluate the temporal relationships between cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and nitric oxide (NO) production, and alterations in expression of stress proteins after exposure to cadmium oxide (CdO) or cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)), particulate and soluble forms of cadmium, respectively. Macrophages were exposed in vitro to CdO (25 or 50 microg) or CdCl(2) (30 or 40 microM) for 2 to 72 h. Cytotoxicity was not evident until 18 h when exposed to 30 microM CdCl(2) or 25 microg CdO, but occurred as early as 12 h after exposure to 40 microM CdCl(2) or 50 microg CdO. Relative to untreated controls, phagocytic activity decreased progressively from 2 to 24 h after exposure to both forms of cadmium. TNF-alpha levels increased to 2- to 3-fold after 4 h and remained elevated until 24 h after exposure to 25 and 50 microg CdO and 30 microM CdCl(2), but decreased by 18-24 h at 40 microM CdCl(2). CdCl(2) or CdO alone did not induce NO; however, both cadmium species reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production in a dose-dependent manner. Enhanced de novo synthesis of 70- and 90-kD heat shock, or stress, proteins was observed 2 to 8 h after exposure to both CdCl(2) and CdO; however, synthesis of these proteins returned to control levels by 24 h. Stress protein synthesis was enhanced by CdCl(2) or CdO prior to cytotoxicity, but coincided with a decrease in phagocytic capacity and an increase in TNF-a levels. The data suggest that cultured macrophages respond similarly in vitro to a particulate form and a soluble form of cadmium in a cell type that plays a pivotal role in inflammatory and immune responses.

Synergistic induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid in combination with polytetrafluoroethylene particles in a murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7.

The induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles (5-50 microns) and by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was examined in RAW cell cultures. Twenty-four-hour culture supernatants from the treated and control cells were assayed for TNF-alpha using a mouse L929 cell cytotoxicity assay. Untreated RAW cells produced low levels of endogenous TNF-alpha in the culture supernatants. Addition of 0.5 ng to 1 microgram/ mL LPS or 1 ng to 1 microgram/ml LTA increased the TNF-alpha production by 7-3570-fold and 2-815-fold, respectively. Addition of 1-5 mg PTFE increased the TNF-alpha production by 6-17-fold over the untreated control cell levels. The cells exposed to PTFE and 0.5 ng/mL LPS or 5 ng/mL LTA produced TNF-alpha levels that were significantly higher than those produced by any inducer alone. Thus, both LTA, a Gram-positive bacterial cell wall component and LPS, a Gram-negative bacterial cell wall component, can induce TNF-alpha production, which is further enhanced by PTFE particles in RAW cells.

Desensitization of catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase and down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat glioma C6 cells. Role of cyclic AMP and protein synthesis.

When exposed to the beta-agonist (-)-isoproterenol, rat glioma C6 cells exhibited a time-and concentration-dependent reduction in isoproterenol responsiveness (desensitization) and a loss of beta-adrenergic receptors (down-regulation). Other agents, such as dibutyryl cyclic AMP, isobutylmethylxanthine, and cholera toxin, all of which elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels, also induced receptor down-regulation but at a much slower rate than isoproterenol. Loss of beta-receptors was detected with intact cells, cell lysates, and cell membranes. Receptor loss was accompanied by a reduction in isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP production and adenylate cyclase activity. For a given amount of receptor loss, this reduction was much greater with isoproterenol than with other agents. In addition, the concentration of isoproterenol required for half-maximal stimulation of cyclic AMP production was increased in cells treated with isoproterenol but not with isobutylmethylxanthine or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The affinity of beta-receptors for the agonist was also lower in membranes from cells treated with isoproterenol but not the other agents. Prior treatment of the cells with cycloheximide inhibited receptor loss by isoproterenol but did not prevent desensitization or reduced affinity of beta-receptors for the agonist. Cycloheximide also blocked the loss of receptors induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and, in addition, prevented a reduction in agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. We propose that desensitization is mediated in rat glioma C6 cells only by agonists and is not dependent on either cyclic AMP or protein synthesis. Down-regulation can be induced both by agonists and by cyclic AMP and does depend on protein synthesis. Thus, desensitization and down-regulation can occur independently.

Effects of ultraviolet light on the in vitro assembly of microtubules.

Exposure of microtubular protein to ultraviolet light inhibits its assembly into morphologically normal microtubules. This effect appeared to result primarily from damage to the tubulin dimers. The damage consisted of a conformational change, a loss of two free sulfhydryl groups, a production of higher molecular weight cross-linked species, and the formation of aggregated amorphous material upon polymerization.

Effects of ionizing radiation on the polymerization of microtubules in vitro.

Exposure of phosphocellulose-purified 6S tubulin to ionizing radiation results in a reduction or loss in its ability to participate in polymerization. Evidence is presented which correlates this loss in ability to polymerize with a reduction in the number of titratable sulfhydryl groups and a lowered affinity for guanosine triphosphate.