Functional expression of chemokine receptor 2 by normal human eosinophils.

BACKGROUND: Within the granulocytes, the CC chemokines preferentially activate basophils and eosinophils on binding to chemokine receptors (CCRs). In vivo administration of neutralizing anti-monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) antibodies can block accumulation of eosinophils in the lungs of antigen-challenged animals. OBJECTIVE: We studied a panel of chemokines for chemotactic activity in normal human eosinophils from healthy donors with a special focus on MCP-1, identified the respective receptor required for the biological response of eosinophils, and investigated mediators used for signal transduction. METHODS: Cells were enriched by magnetic cell sorting. Receptor expression in eosinophils was shown by RT-PCR and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The biological response was tested in chemotaxis and calcium mobilization assays. RESULTS: Eosinophils have detectable mRNA for CCR2, and the receptor protein is expressed on cell surfaces. MCP-1 induces chemotaxis and calcium mobilization in eosinophils. The chemotactic activity of MCP-1 revealed a double-peaked dose-response curve; one of the peaks is abolished by addition of a blocking antibody to CCR2, but it is insensitive to blocking of CCR1 or CCR3. Specific enzyme inhibitors ruled out signaling characteristics of CCR2 in eosinophils. CONCLUSION: Normal human eosinophils express functional CCR2 on cell surfaces.

Effects of inhibitors and ion substitutions on oscillations of cell membrane potential in cells expressing the RAS oncogene.

Previous studies revealed that in NIH fibroblasts expressing the ras oncogene but not in other NIH fibroblasts, bradykinin leads to sustained, calcium dependent oscillations of cell membrane potential by repetitive activation of calcium-sensitive K+ channels. The present study has been performed to test for ion and inhibitor sensitivity of these oscillations. Both, Lys-bradykinin (kallidin) and bradykinin, but not any shorter peptide tested, maintained the oscillations. The oscillations are abolished in the presence of the K+ channel blocker barium (10 mmol/l). The amplitude but not the frequency of the oscillations is dependent on the extracellular potassium concentration. The oscillations are not dependent on the presence of extracellular sodium, bicarbonate or chloride. The oscillations are abolished in the absence of extracellular calcium and their frequency is significantly decreased at reduced extracellular calcium (to 0.2 mmol/l). The oscillations are not inhibited by acute administration of ouabain (0.1 mmol/l), by dimethylamiloride (100 mumol/l), furosemide (1 mmol/l) and hydrochlorothiazide (100 mumol/l), by cobalt (100 mumol/l), zinc (100 mumol/l), gadolinium (100 mumol/l), verapamil (10 mumol/l) and diltiazem (10 mumol/l), but are abolished in the presence of 100 mumol/l lanthanum, 1 mmol/l cadmium, 10 mumol/l nifedipine, 25 mumol/l SK & F 96365 and 200 mumol/l TMB-8. Stimulation of calcium entry by 10 nmol/l ionomycin is frequently followed by oscillations of cell membrane potential even in the absence of bradykinin. In conclusion, in cells expressing the ras oncogene bradykinin leads to sustained activation of calcium channels at the cell membrane, which cause oscillations of the cell membrane potential by triggering intracellular calcium release.

Effect of Ha-ras on mitogen-induced Ca(2+)- and K(+)-fluxes.

Transforming Ha-ras enhances the mitogen-induced activation of both the Ca(2+)-influx and the furosemide-sensitive Na+/K+/2Cl-cotransporter. Both systems represent essential early steps of mitogenic signal transduction in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.