scholarly journals The Hunger Games: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Exploits Human Neutrophils As an Epinephrine Source for Survival

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazel Ozuna ◽  
Silvia M. Uriarte ◽  
Donald R. Demuth
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans ◽  
Human Neutrophils ◽  
Bacterial Survival ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Granule Exocytosis ◽  
Hunger Games ◽  
The Hunger Games ◽  
Periplasmic Domain ◽  
Anaerobic Environment

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative facultative anaerobe and an opportunistic oral pathogen, strongly associated with periodontitis and other inflammatory diseases. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the periodontium resulting from the inflammatory response of the host towards the dysbiotic microbial community present at the gingival crevice. Previously, our group identified catecholamines and iron as the signals that activate the QseBC two-component system in A. actinomycetemcomitans, necessary for the organism to acquire iron as a nutrient to survive in the anaerobic environment. However, the source of catecholamines has not been identified. It has been reported that mouse neutrophils can release catecholamines. In periodontitis, large infiltration of neutrophils is found at the subgingival pocket; hence, we wanted to test the hypothesis that A. actinomycetemcomitans exploits human neutrophils as a source for catecholamines. In the present study, we showed that human neutrophils synthesize, store, and release epinephrine, one of the three main types of catecholamines. Human neutrophil challenge with A. actinomycetemcomitans induced exocytosis of neutrophil granule subtypes: secretory vesicles, specific granules, gelatinase granules, and azurophilic granules. In addition, by selectively inhibiting granule exocytosis, we present the first evidence that epinephrine is stored in azurophilic granules. Using QseC mutants, we showed that the periplasmic domain of the QseC sensor kinase is required for the interaction between A. actinomycetemcomitans and epinephrine. Finally, epinephrine-containing supernatants collected from human neutrophils promoted A. actinomycetemcomitans growth and induced the expression of the qseBC operon under anaerobic conditions. Based on our findings, we propose that A. actinomycetemcomitans promotes azurophilic granule exocytosis by neutrophils as an epinephrine source to promote bacterial survival.

The Flavonols Quercetin, Myricetin, Kaempferol, and Galangin Inhibit the Net Oxygen Consumption by Immune Complex- Stimulated Human and Rabbit Neutrophils

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 346-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa S. G. Figueiredo-Rinhel ◽  
Everton O. L. Santos ◽  
Luciana M. Kabeya ◽  
Ana Elisa C. S. Azzolini ◽  
Livia M. C. Simões-Ambrosio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Immune Complex ◽  
Respiratory Burst ◽  
Human Neutrophil ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Oxygen Electrode ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Human Neutrophils ◽  
Experimental Conditions

Stimulated human neutrophils exhibit increased net oxygen consumption (NOC) due to the conversion of O2 into the superoxide anion by the NADPH oxidase enzymatic complex during the respiratory burst. In several inflammatory diseases, overproduction of these oxidants causes tissue damage. The present study aims to: (a) optimize the experimental conditions used to measure the NOC in serum-opsonized zymosan (OZ)-and insoluble immune complex (i-IC)-stimulated human and rabbit neutrophils; and (b) compare the effect of four flavonols (quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and galangin) on this activity. We used a Clark-type oxygen electrode to measure the NOC of stimulated neutrophils. Eliciting the neutrophil respiratory burst with OZ and i-IC yielded similar maximum O2 uptake levels within the same species, but the human neutrophil NOC was almost four times higher than the rabbit neutrophil NOC. The optimal experimental conditions established for both cell types were 4·106 neutrophils mL-1, 2 mg mL-1 OZ, and 240 µg mL-1 i-IC. Upon stimulation with OZ or i-IC, the tested flavonols reduced the human and rabbit neutrophil NOC in the same order of potency - quercetin and galangin were the most and the least potent, respectively. These compounds were around four times more effective in inhibiting the rabbit as compared to the human neutrophil NOC, respectively. The four flavonols were not toxic to human or rabbit neutrophils. The experimental conditions used are suitable for both the determination of human and rabbit neutrophil NOC and for the assessment of the modulatory effects of natural compounds on these activities. The relationship between the level of NOC and the inhibitory potency of the flavonols suggests that rabbit neutrophils can be useful experimental models to predict the effect of drugs on immune complexstimulated human neutrophils.

scholarly journals Counterregulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis by the actin and microtubular cytoskeleton in human neutrophils

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (4) ◽  
pp. C857-C867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia M. Uriarte ◽  
Neelakshi R. Jog ◽  
Gregory C. Luerman ◽  
Samrath Bhimani ◽  
Richard A. Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Human Neutrophils ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Membrane Expression ◽  
Granule Exocytosis ◽  
Plasma Membrane Expression ◽  
Microtubular Cytoskeleton ◽  
Latrunculin A ◽  
Azurophil Granule

We have recently reported that disruption of the actin cytoskeleton enhanced N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated granule exocytosis in human neutrophils but decreased plasma membrane expression of complement receptor 1 (CR1), a marker of secretory vesicles. The present study was initiated to determine if reduced CR1 expression was due to fMLP-stimulated endocytosis, to determine the mechanism of this endocytosis, and to examine its impact on neutrophil functional responses. Stimulation of neutrophils with fMLP or ionomycin in the presence of latrunculin A resulted in the uptake of Alexa fluor 488-labeled albumin and transferrin and reduced plasma membrane expression of CR1. These effects were prevented by preincubation of the cells with sucrose, chlorpromazine, or monodansylcadaverine (MDC), inhibitors of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Sucrose, chlorpromazine, and MDC also significantly inhibited fMLP- and ionomycin-stimulated specific and azurophil granule exocytosis. Disruption of microtubules with nocodazole inhibited endocytosis and azurophil granule exocytosis stimulated by fMLP in the presence of latrunculin A. Pharmacological inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, ERK1/2, and PKC significantly reduced fMLP-stimulated transferrin uptake in the presence of latrunculin A. Blockade of clathrin-mediated endocytosis had no significant effect on fMLP-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in neutrophils pretreated with latrunculin A. From these data, we conclude that the actin cytoskeleton functions to limit microtubule-dependent, clathrin-mediated endocytosis in stimulated human neutrophils. The limitation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis by actin regulates the extent of both specific and azurophilic granule exocytosis.

scholarly journals Primary granule exocytosis in human neutrophils is regulated by Rac-dependent actin remodeling

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (5) ◽  
pp. C1354-C1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy Mitchell ◽  
Andrea Lo ◽  
Michael R. Logan ◽  
Paige Lacy ◽  
Gary Eitzen
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Formyl Peptide Receptor ◽  
Human Neutrophils ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Actin Remodeling ◽  
Granule Exocytosis ◽  
Primary Granule

The actin cytoskeleton regulates exocytosis in all secretory cells. In neutrophils, Rac2 GTPase has been shown to control primary (azurophilic) granule exocytosis. In this report, we propose that Rac2 is required for actin cytoskeletal remodeling to promote primary granule exocytosis. Treatment of neutrophils with low doses (≤10 μM) of the actin-depolymerizing drugs latrunculin B (Lat B) or cytochalasin B (CB) enhanced both formyl peptide receptor- and Ca2+ionophore-stimulated exocytosis. Higher concentrations of CB or Lat B, or stabilization of F-actin with jasplakinolide (JP), inhibited primary granule exocytosis measured as myeloperoxidase release but did not affect secondary granule exocytosis determined by lactoferrin release. These results suggest an obligatory role for F-actin disassembly before primary granule exocytosis. However, lysates from secretagogue-stimulated neutrophils showed enhanced actin polymerization activity in vitro. Microscopic analysis showed that resting neutrophils contain significant cortical F-actin, which was redistributed to sites of primary granule translocation when stimulated. Exocytosis and actin remodeling was highly polarized when cells were primed with CB; however, polarization was reduced by Lat B preincubation, and both polarization and exocytosis were blocked when F-actin was stabilized with JP. Treatment of cells with the small molecule Rac inhibitor NSC23766 also inhibited actin remodeling and primary granule exocytosis induced by Lat B/fMLF or CB/fMLF, but not by Ca2+ionophore. Therefore, we propose a role for F-actin depolymerization at the cell cortex coupled with Rac-dependent F-actin polymerization in the cell cytoplasm to promote primary granule exocytosis.

scholarly journals STRUGGLES IN SUZANNE COLLINS’ NOVEL THE HUNGER GAMES

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Intan Novia Sari ◽  
Purwarno Purwarno
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Hunger Games ◽  
The Hunger Games ◽  
The Future ◽  
Katniss Everdeen ◽  
The Prestige

This research is the result of qualitative research on the protagonist’s struggles named Katniss Everdeen depicted in Suzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games. Burleson (1964) says that struggle is one of ways to reach the better life in the future and also to increase the prestige. It means that any hope will be achieved through struggling. Katniss Everdeen is a strong as well as a resourceful sixteen-year-old girl who is far more mature than her age would suggest. Katniss is the main provider in her family, which consists of Katniss, her mother, and her younger sister, Prim Everdeen. She must struggle hard to make herself and her family stay life. Therefore she always keeps on struggling in her life. The finding of this research shows that the protagonist is succesful in her struggles to fulfill her family needs, to protect her sister and to win in the Hunger Games.

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