Neutrophils play an indispensable role in killing of invading pathogens by enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO generation, and subsequently undergoing apoptosis. Unlike ROS/NOX2, role of NO/NOS still remains undefined in the apoptosis of neutrophils (PMNs) and the present study attempts to decipher the importance of NO/NOS in the neutrophil apoptosis. Prolonged treatment of human PMNs or mice bone marrow derived neutrophils (BMDN) with NO led to enhanced ROS generation, caspase-8/caspase-3 cleavage, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and finally cellular apoptosis. NO-induced ROS generation led to caspase-8 deglutathionylation and activation, which subsequently activated mitochondrial death pathway via BID (Bcl-2 family protein) cleavage. NO-mediated augmentation of caspase-8 and BID cleavage was significantly prevented in BMDN from neutrophil cytosolic factor-1 (NCF-1) knockout (KO) mice, implying the involvement of NOX2 in NO-induced apoptosis of PMNs. Furthermore, ROS, NO generation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were enhanced in a time-dependent manner in human PMNs and mice BMDN undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. Pharmacological and genetic ablation of iNOS in human PMNs and mice BMDN significantly reduced the levels of apoptosis. Impaired apoptosis of BMDN from iNOS KO mice was due to reduced caspase-8 activity which subsequently prevented caspase-3 and -9 activation. Altogether, our results suggest a crucial role of NO/iNOS in neutrophil apoptosis via enhanced ROS generation and caspase-8 mediated activation of mitochondrial death pathway.
View details for DOI 10.1038/cddis.2016.248
View details for Web of Science ID 000382326800010
View details for PubMedID 27584786
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation was initially linked with host defence and extracellular killing of pathogens. However, recent studies have highlighted their inflammatory potential. Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has been implicated as an independent risk factor in various acute or chronic inflammatory diseases including systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). In the present study we investigated effect of oxLDL on NETs formation and elucidated the underlying signalling mechanism. Treatment of oxLDL to adhered PMNs led to a time and concentration dependent ROS generation and NETs formation. OxLDL induced free radical formation and NETs release were significantly prevented in presence of NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitors suggesting role of NOX activation in oxLDL induced NETs release. Blocking of both toll like receptor (TLR)-2 and 6 significantly reduced oxLDL induced NETs formation indicating requirement of both the receptors. We further identified Protein kinase C (PKC), Interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase (IRAKs), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway as downstream intracellular signalling mediators involved in oxLDL induced NETs formation. OxLDL components such as oxidized phospholipids (lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (oxPAPC)) were most potent NETs inducers and might be crucial for oxLDL mediating NETs release. Other components like, oxysterols, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were however less potent as compared to oxidized phospholipids. This study thus demonstrates for the first time that treatment of human PMNs with oxLDL or its various oxidized phopholipid component mediated NETs release, implying their role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as SIRS.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.01.004
View details for Web of Science ID 000371219400018
View details for PubMedID 26774674
Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of cytoskeleton proteins due to oxidative stress associated with several pathological conditions often lead to alterations in cell function. The current study evaluates the effect of nitric oxide (DETA-NO)-induced oxidative stress-related S-glutathionylation of cytoskeleton proteins in human PMNs. By using in vitro and genetic approaches, we showed that S-glutathionylation of L-plastin (LPL) and β-actin promotes reduced chemotaxis, polarization, bactericidal activity, and phagocytosis. We identified Cys-206, Cys-283, and Cys-460as S-thiolated residues in the β-actin-binding domain of LPL, where cys-460 had the maximum score. Site-directed mutagenesis of LPL Cys-460 further confirmed the role in the redox regulation of LPL. S-Thiolation diminished binding as well as the bundling activity of LPL. The presence of S-thiolated LPL was detected in neutrophils from both diabetic patients and db/db mice with impaired PMN functions. Thus, enhanced nitroxidative stress may results in LPL S-glutathionylation leading to impaired chemotaxis, polarization, and bactericidal activity of human PMNs, providing a mechanistic basis for their impaired functions in diabetes mellitus.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.04.008
View details for Web of Science ID 000360569700001
View details for PubMedID 25881549
Present study explores importance of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and its interaction with Rac2 in reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation, protein-nitration and in microbial killing by neutrophils.The iNOS transcript and protein were constitutively present in human as well as in mice neutrophils. iNOS protein was found in cytosol, granules containing elastase and gelatinase, and in other subcellular organelles in resting human neutrophils. After phagocytosis of bovine serum albumin (BSA) coated beads, both human and mice neutrophils showed significant elevation in superoxide radicals, nitric oxide (NO), ROS/RNS and consequent BSA nitration. These responses were significantly reduced in presence of iNOS, NADPH oxidase (NOX), myeloperoxidase or Rac inhibitors, as well as in iNOS, Nox2 and Rac2 silenced human or iNOS-knockout mice neutrophils. Complex formed on interaction of iNOS with Rac2 coprecipitated with anti-Rac2, predominantly in cytosol in resting human neutrophils, while iNOS-Rac2 complex translocated to phagosomes after phagocytosis. This was accompanied by generation of superoxide radicals, NO, ROS/RNS and consequent BSA-nitration. Importance of Rac2 in iNOS mediated NO formation and microbial killing was confirmed by pretreatment of mice with Rac inhibitor, NSC23766 that significantly abrogated NO release and microbial killing in vivo.Present study highlights previously undefined role of Rac2-iNOS interaction, in translocation of iNOS to phagosomal compartment and consequent NO, superoxide radicals, ROS/RNS generation, BSA nitration and microbial killing.Altogether results obtained demonstrate the role of iNOS in NO and ROS/RNS generation, after phagocytosis of coated latex beads by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. These studies imply functional importance of iNOS and its interaction with Rac2 in pathogen killing by the neutrophils.
View details for DOI 10.1089/ars.2012.4970
View details for Web of Science ID 000330804800003
View details for PubMedID 23875749
Glutathione is considered the main regulator of redox balance in the cellular milieu due to its capacity for detoxifying deleterious molecules. The oxidative stress induced as a result of a variety of stimuli promotes protein oxidation, usually at cysteine residues, leading to changes in their activity. Mild oxidative stress, which may take place in physiological conditions, induces the reversible oxidation of cysteines to sulfenic acid form, while pathological conditions are associated with higher rates of reactive oxygen species production, inducing the irreversible oxidation of cysteines. Among these, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes have been proposed to be pathogenetically linked to this state. In diabetes-associated vascular complications, lower levels of glutathione and increased oxidative stress have been reported. S-glutathionylation has been proposed as a posttranslational modification able to protect proteins from over-oxidizing environments. S-glutathionylation has been identified in proteins involved in diabetic models both in vitro and in vivo. In all of them, S-glutathionylation represents a mechanism that regulates the response to diabetic conditions, and has been described to occur in erythrocytes and neutrophils from diabetic patients. However, additional studies are necessary to discern whether this modification represents a biomarker for the early onset of diabetic vascular complications.
View details for DOI 10.1515/hsz-2013-0150
View details for Web of Science ID 000324050400003
View details for PubMedID 24002664
Neutrophils (PMNs) and cytokines have a critical role to play in host defense and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been shown to extracellularly kill pathogens, and inflammatory potential of NETs has been shown. Microbial killing inside the phagosomes or by NETs is mediated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). The present study was undertaken to assess circulating NETs contents and frequency of NETs generation by isolated PMNs from SIRS patients. These patients displayed significant augmentation in the circulating myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and DNA content, while PMA stimulated PMNs from these patients, generated more free radicals and NETs. Plasma obtained from SIRS patients, if added to the PMNs isolated from healthy subjects, enhanced NETs release and free radical formation. Expressions of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα and IL-8) in the PMNs as well as their circulating levels were significantly augmented in SIRS subjects. Treatment of neutrophils from healthy subjects with TNFα, IL-1β, or IL-8 enhanced free radicals generation and NETs formation, which was mediated through the activation of NADPH oxidase and MPO. Pre-incubation of plasma from SIRS with TNFα, IL-1β, or IL-8 antibodies reduced the NETs release. Role of IL-1β, TNFα and IL-8 thus seems to be involved in the enhanced release of NETs in SIRS subjects.
View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0048111
View details for Web of Science ID 000310262500037
View details for PubMedID 23110185
Neutrophils expel extracellular traps (NETs) to entrap and exterminate the invaded micro-organisms. Acute/chronic inflammatory disorders are often observed with aberrantly enhanced NETs formation and high nitric oxide (NO) availability. Recent study from this laboratory demonstrated release of NETs from human neutrophils following treatment with SNP or SNAP. This study is an extension of our previous finding to explore the extracellular bacterial killing, source of DNA in the expelled NETs, their ability to induce proinflammatory cytokines release from platelets/THP-1 cells, and assessment of NO-mediated free radical formation by using a consistent NO donor, DETA-NONOate. NO-mediated NETs exhibited extracellular bacterial killing as determined by colony forming units. NO-mediated NETs formation was due to the activation of NADPH oxidase and myeloperoxidase. NO- or PMA-mediated NETs were positive for both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA as well as proteolytic enzymes. Incubation of NETs with human platelets enhanced the release of IL-1β and IL-8, while with THP-1 cells, release of IL-1β, IL-8, and TNFα was observed. This study demonstrates that NO by augmenting enzymatic free radical generation release NETs to promote extracellular bacterial killing. These NETs were made up of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and potentiated release of proinflammatory cytokines.
View details for DOI 10.1002/cyto.a.21178
View details for PubMedID 22170804
