© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/2003/5/641 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 161, Number 3, 641-651


Article

PMN transendothelial migration decreases nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–activated endothelial cells : role of PECAM-1



Gediminas Cepinskas, Jurate Savickiene, Carmen V. Ionescu and Peter R. Kvietys

Program in Vascular Biology/Inflammation, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4G5

Address correspondence to Peter R. Kvietys, Program in Vascular Biology/Inflammation, Lawson Health Research Institute, 375 South Street, Room C210, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4G5. Tel.: (519) 685-8300 ext. 77055. Fax: (519) 667-6629. E-mail: pkvietys{at}julian.uwo.ca


   Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
During the systemic inflammatory response, circulating cytokines interact with the vascular endothelium, resulting in activation and nuclear accumulation of the nuclear transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NF{kappa}B). In turn, NF{kappa}B transactivates relevant proinflammatory genes, resulting in an amplification of the inflammatory response. Because this scenario is potentially detrimental to the host, mechanisms exist to limit this amplification. Using an in vitro system that mimics the vascular–interstitial interface during inflammation (cell culture inserts), we provide evidence for the existence of a novel negative feedback mechanism on NF{kappa}B activity. We show that the interleukin 1ß–induced accumulation of nuclear NF{kappa}B in human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers is dramatically reduced when polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are allowed to migrate across these monolayers. This effect does not appear to be due to PMN-derived elastase or nitric oxide. Fixed PMN (adhere but do not migrate) did not affect nuclear NF{kappa}B. Furthermore, cross-linking of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), but not intercellular adhesion molecule-1, reduces human umbilical vein endothelial cell nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by interleukin 1ß. Finally, interaction of PMN with PECAM-1–deficient endothelial cells does not reduce nuclear NF{kappa}B. These observations indicate that engagement of PECAM-1 by emigrating PMN is a pivotal event in this negative feedback on NF{kappa}B activity.

Key Words: ICAM-1; CD18; HUVEC; mice; NO


G. Cepinskas and P.R. Kvietys contributed equally to this paper.

* Abbreviations used in this paper: CD18, cluster of differentiation-18; CLP, cecal ligation and perforation; EMSA, electrophoretic mobility shift assay; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cell; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; I{kappa}B, inhibitory protein kappa B; IL-1ß, interleukin 1ß; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; MPO, myeloperoxidase; NF{kappa}B, nuclear factor kappa B; NO, nitric oxide; PAF, platelet-activating factor; PECAM-1, platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1; PMN, polymorphonuclear leukocytes; TNF-{alpha}, tumor necrosis factor {alpha}. Back


   Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
A systemic inflammatory response is a frequent consequence of a severe bacterial infection or trauma and can impact on organ systems remote from the initial insult (Bone, 1995; Lush and Kvietys, 2000). The release of bacterial products and other proinflammatory mediators from the affected tissue results in an increase in plasma concentrations of cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor {alpha} [TNF-{alpha}],* interleukin 1ß [IL-1ß], etc.). These cytokines activate both circulating neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMN) and the vascular endothelium. Activated PMN increase their surface levels and/or activation state of adhesion molecules (e.g., cluster of differentiation-18, CD18) and become less deformable (Hogg and Doerschuk, 1995; Linderkamp et al., 1998; Lush and Kvietys, 2000). Endothelial cell activation also involves up-regulation of adhesion molecules (e.g., intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1], the ligand for CD18) and structural alterations, such as swelling and pseudopod formation (Panes et al., 1995; Goddard et al., 1998). These changes in the activation state of PMN and endothelium facilitate PMN invasion of various organ systems, where they contribute to tissue injury. If unchecked, this sequence of events can lead to multiple organ dysfunction, and ultimately, death.

The systemic inflammatory response appears to be a self-amplifying phenomenon generated by the activation of nuclear transcription factors by circulating cytokines. One transcription factor that is believed to be important in the systemic inflammatory response is nuclear factor kappa B (NF{kappa}B; Collins et al., 1995; Stancovski and Baltimore, 1997; Winyard and Blake, 1997; Mercurio and Manning, 1999; Bonizzi et al., 2000). In quiescent cells, NF{kappa}B (p50/p65 heterodimer) is localized to the cytoplasm by virtue of its association with inhibitory protein kappa B (I{kappa}B). I{kappa}B apparently masks the nuclear localization sequence on NF{kappa}B, and thereby prevents its translocation to the nucleus (Henkel et al., 1992; Lin et al., 1995; Mercurio and Manning, 1999). In cytokine-activated cells, I{kappa}B is phosphorylated, ubiquitinated, and subsequently degraded by the proteasome pathway. The loss of I{kappa}B allows NF{kappa}B to enter the nucleus and initiate the transcription of relevant proinflammatory genes, including those encoding for endothelial adhesion molecules and various cytokines. Interestingly, NF{kappa}B transcribes genes encoding for the same cytokines that mobilized it to the nucleus. This positive feedback mechanism could amplify the inflammatory state with severe consequences to the host.

Fortunately, there are negative feedback mechanisms in place that limit an excessive and prolonged inflammatory response on NF{kappa}B translocation to the nucleus. For example, NF{kappa}B transactivates the gene encoding for I{kappa}B (Brown et al., 1993; Baldwin, 1996; Bonizzi et al., 2000). The resultant generation of I{kappa}B presumably binds to cytoplasmic NF{kappa}B and prevents further translocation of this transcription factor to the nucleus. This feedback inhibition assures a transient response to the initiating signal and prevents an excessive, uncontrolled inflammatory response. Our previous preliminary works (Cepinskas et al. 1998. FASEB J. 12(5):A801. Abstract) indicated that there might be an additional negative feedback mechanism in place to control the systemic inflammatory response. In that paper, we noted that the increase in rat myocardial and lung nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by sepsis (peritonitis) was enhanced when PMN emigration was prevented by antibodies directed to CD18. This observation suggested that PMN emigration into the lungs and heart during the systemic inflammatory response could reduce tissue nuclear NF{kappa}B. Herein, we provide evidence that the IL-1ß–induced increase in endothelial cell monolayer nuclear NF{kappa}B can be reduced if PMN are allowed to migrate across these monolayers. Furthermore, engagement of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) on endothelial cells by PMN may be the mechanism by which this negative feedback inhibition occurs.


   Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
In ICAM-1–deficient mice, the peritonitis-induced increase in lung and heart MPO activity is decreased, whereas the increase in tissue nuclear NF{kappa}B activity is augmented
Previously, we have shown that cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) in mice results in peritonitis and sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response (Lush et al., 2001). As shown in Fig. 1 A, induction of peritonitis in wild-type mice resulted in an increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lungs and hearts of these animals. The increase in MPO activity in the lungs and heart in response to CLP was substantially diminished in ICAM-1–deficient animals. As shown in Fig. 1 B, the NF{kappa}B in nuclear extracts obtained from lungs and hearts of wild-type mice subjected to CLP was increased. The NF{kappa}B in nuclear extracts obtained from the lungs and hearts of ICAM-1–deficient mice subjected to CLP was increased to a greater extent than the levels noted in wild-type mice subjected to the same procedure (Fig. 1 B, compare lane 3 with lane 4). These observations are in agreement with our previous studies in rats (Cepinskas et al. 1998. FASEB J. 12(5):A801. Abstract). As in the present work, induction of peritonitis (CLP) resulted in an increase in MPO activity and nuclear NF{kappa}B in the hearts and lungs of rats. Antibodies to CD18 prevented the CLP-induced PMN accumulation in the lungs and hearts of rats, while exaggerating the increase in nuclear NF{kappa}B. Thus, collectively, these findings indicate that CD18/ICAM-1–mediated adhesive interactions between PMN and endothelial cells can modulate the systemic inflammatory response.



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Figure 1. PMN accumulation in the lung and heart of ICAM-1–deficient mice is decreased during peritonitis, whereas tissue nuclear NF{kappa}B is increased. Wild-type and ICAM-1–deficient mice were subjected to peritonitis (CLP). (A) The increase in MPO activity (index of PMN accumulation) was less in the lungs and hearts of ICAM-1 knockout (ICAM-1 KO) mice as compared with their wild-type counterparts (WT). MPO activity was measured 6 h after induction of CLP. Values are means and SEM from six experiments. (B) The CLP-induced increase in NF{kappa}B in nuclear extracts of the lungs and hearts was greater in ICAM-1 knockout mice (ICAM-1 KO). The nuclear extracts were obtained 6 h after induction of CLP and EMSA performed as described in Materials and methods. Results presented are representative of six experiments.

 
There are two possible explanations for these observations based on the importance of CD18–ICAM-1 adhesive interactions in PMN infiltration of tissues (Granger and Kubes, 1994; Kvietys et al., 1996; Panes and Granger, 1998; Wang and Springer, 1998). The neutralization of ICAM-1 (genetically) and CD18 (antibodies) may have prevented PMN emigration into the site of infection, the peritoneum, thereby compromising the clearance of fecal bacteria and their proinflammatory products. Ultimately, this would result in a greater systemic inflammatory response, e.g., exaggerated levels of circulating cytokines. The higher levels of circulating cytokines could, in turn, induce a greater increase in heart and lung nuclear NF{kappa}B. Alternatively, the prevention of PMN emigration into the interstitium of the target organs (heart and lung) may have directly impacted on the CLP-induced increase in nuclear NF{kappa}B in these organs. This latter possibility suggested that PMN transendothelial migration may initiate a negative feedback signal to diminish nuclear levels of NF{kappa}B. In the present work, we mimicked the interstitial–vascular interface during sepsis by activating endothelial monolayers in culture inserts with IL-1ß and inducing PMN transendothelial migration from the apical to the basal aspects of the inserts by introducing platelet-activating factor (PAF) into the basal compartment. This approach allowed for a direct assessment of PMN transendothelial migration in target organs in the absence of complications induced by excessive cytokine production due to lack of clearance of bacteria from the initial site of infection. Herein, we provide evidence that PMN transendothelial migration initiates a negative feedback on endothelial cell nuclear NF{kappa}B.

Migrating PMN decrease nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs
We used confocal microscopy to assess the negative impact of PMN transendothelial migration on the IL-1ß–induced increase in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) nuclear NF{kappa}B (Fig. 2 A). Under control (unstimulated) conditions, p65 is localized to the cytoplasm of HUVECs (Fig. 2 A, a). After stimulation with IL-1ß/PAF, the p65 is primarily localized to the nuclei of HUVECs (Fig. 2 A, b). When PMN were allowed to migrate across the HUVEC monolayers, there was a decrease in nuclear p65 (Fig. 2 A, c). Of interest is the observation that, although there is some staining for NF{kappa}B in the cytoplasm, the overall extent is much less than under control conditions (Fig. 2 A, compare a with c). The reason for the overall lack of cytoplasmic staining after PMN migration is not clear, but may reflect degradation of NF{kappa}B or modification of NF{kappa}B, such that it is no longer recognized by the antibody.



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Figure 2. PMN transendothelial migration across IL-1ß–activated HUVEC monolayers reduces nuclear levels of the NF{kappa}B. (A) In naive (unstimulated) HUVECs, the NF{kappa}B p65 subunit (red fluorescence) is confined to the cytoplasm (a, arrow), i.e., there is no detectable NF{kappa}B p65 in the nuclei. In IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs, the NF{kappa}B p65 subunit is detected in the nuclei (b, arrowhead) with very little of the NF{kappa}B p65 remaining in the cytoplasm (b, arrow). The IL-1ß–induced nuclear staining for NF{kappa}B p65 is decreased after PMN migration across HUVECs (c, arrowhead), while some cytoplasmic staining is present (c, solid arrow). Although the images were obtained after the bulk of the PMN added to the HUVEC monolayers had completed their passage across the monolayers, an occasional PMN was captured still in the process of migration (c, open arrow). Bar, 20 µm. The experiment was repeated twice and similar results were obtained. Quantitation of this phenomenon was performed by counting the number of nuclei stained for NF{kappa}B in 100 random cells. Under control conditions (a), 2% of the nuclei were stained; after stimulation of HUVECs with IL-1ß/PAF (b), 97% of the nuclei were stained; and after PMN transendothelial migration (c), 22% of the nuclei were stained. (B) HUVECs in the apical compartment of culture inserts were stimulated with IL-1ß for 4 h, and subsequently, PMN transendothelial migration was induced by PAF introduced into the basal compartment of the system (IL-1ß/PAF). After PMN transendothelial migration, nuclear extracts were obtained from the HUVEC monolayers and assessed for NF{kappa}B using EMSA. PMN transendothelial migration decreased the IL-1ß–stimulated HUVEC nuclear content of NF{kappa}B. As the number of PMN allowed to interact and migrate across HUVEC monolayers was increased, the greater was the decrease in the levels of nuclear NF{kappa}B (lanes 2–6). Lane 7 shows the control competition assay (Comp.) using 50-fold excess of the unlabeled oligonucleotide. Results presented are representative of three experiments.

 
To further address this issue, we used electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to monitor nuclear NF{kappa}B. As shown in Fig. 2 B (lane 1), activation of HUVECs grown to confluence in cell culture inserts with IL-1ß (apical aspect) and PAF (basal aspect) resulted in nuclear accumulation of NF{kappa}B. This observation is consistent with previous reports of cytokine-induced NF{kappa}B activation and translocation to HUVEC nuclei (Stancovski and Baltimore, 1997; Lush et al., 2000). When PMN were allowed to migrate across the IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVEC monolayers, the nuclear level of NF{kappa}B was dramatically diminished (Fig. 2 B, lane 2). The negative effect on HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by migrating PMN was dependent on the number of PMN interacted with HUVECs. The greater the number of PMN that were allowed to migrate across HUVEC monolayers, the greater was the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B (Fig. 2 B, lanes 2–6). The finding that a decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B was noted even when the endothelial cell:PMN ratio was as low as 10:1 (Fig. 2 B, lane 6) indicates that this phenomenon is pathophysiologically relevant. Collectively, the data obtained using EMSA and confocal microscopy indicate that PMN transendothelial migration has a negative impact on HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this phenomenon has been described.

Having demonstrated the negative impact of PMN transendothelial migration on the IL-1ß–stimulated increase in HUVEC NF{kappa}B using two different approaches, we assessed whether this phenomenon could be demonstrated using other cytokines to stimulate HUVECs. HUVECs were activated with 10 ng/ml TNF-{alpha} (R&D Systems) and 0.5 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Sigma-Aldrich) rather than IL-1ß. Similar results were noted as with IL-1ß, i.e., these compounds increased HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B, and subsequent PMN transendothelial migration resulted in a decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B (unpublished data). These latter observations indicate that PMN transendothelial migration can provide a negative influence on HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by a variety of cytokines. Because LPS, IL-1ß, and TNF-{alpha} have all been implicated in the systemic inflammatory response (Lush and Kvietys, 2000), this negative feedback on HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B may be very relevant to this pathology. For the remainder of the experiments, we focused on IL-1ß as the cytokine prototype.

PMN-derived soluble factors do not play a role in the decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by PMN transendothelial migration
In these experiments, we assessed whether PMN secrete or discharge substances that are responsible for the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B of IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs. PMN were separated from HUVEC monolayers by placing them in the apical compartment of cell culture inserts (0.4-µm pore diameter) over the HUVEC monolayers in the basal compartment (distance between PMN and HUVECs was 0.9 mm). When PAF-activated PMN were coincubated with HUVECs in this system for 1 h, there was no detectable increase in nuclear NF{kappa}B in naive HUVECs (unpublished data). More importantly, the IL-1ß–induced increase in nuclear NF{kappa}B was not affected by subsequent addition of PMN and PAF (unpublished data). These observations suggest that PAF-activated PMN do not release substances that can traverse 0.9 mm to influence HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. However, this does not preclude the possibility that contact of PMN with the endothelium is necessary for PMN-derived soluble factors to be effective. Others have shown that adhesion of PMN to biological surfaces renders them more sensitive and reactive to inflammatory stimuli (Fuortes et al., 1993; Furuno et al., 1997).

Previously, we have shown that activated PMN mobilize elastase to the cell surface, where it plays an important role in PMN transendothelial migration (Cepinskas et al., 1999a). Others have shown that neutrophil-derived elastase can also induce cell signaling in epithelial (Hashimoto et al., 1999) and endothelial (Yamaguchi et al., 1998) cells. Thus, several approaches were used to determine whether PMN-derived elastase can decrease nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs. Neutroplasts (neutrophilic cytoplasts) prepared from 10-7 M PAF-stimulated PMN were used, rather that intact PMN. As shown in Fig. 3 A, migrating neutroplasts were also capable of inducing a decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. This observation indicates that PMN degranulation (extracellular release of enzymes) is not required for the negative impact of PMN migration on HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. However, the cell membranes of neutroplasts obtained from PAF-activated PMN are enriched in elastase (Cepinskas et al., 1999a). Thus, it was quite possible that membrane-bound elastase could be involved. However, the elastase inhibitor L658 758 (100 µM; Merck) did not affect the decrease in NF{kappa}B in HUVEC nuclei induced by migrating intact PMN (Fig. 3 B). In another series of experiments, purified human elastase (0.1–0.5 µg/ml for 15 min; DakoCytomation) was added to the IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs. This maneuver also failed to affect the increase in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by IL-1ß (unpublished data). Together, these experiments indicate that PMN-derived elastase does not play a role in the negative effect on endothelial nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by migrating PMN.



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Figure 3. The negative impact of PMN transendothelial migration on nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–activated HUVECs does not require PMN degranulation or PMN-derived elastase. The experimental conditions were the same as described in Fig. 2 B, and nuclear extracts were assessed for NF{kappa}B content by EMSA. (A) Neutroplasts (anuclear PMN devoid of granules) decreased nuclear NF{kappa}B in HUVECs when induced to migrate across IL-1ß–activated HUVEC monolayers by a PAF gradient (IL-1ß/PAF). (B) An elastase inhibitor (L 658 758) did not prevent the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by PMN transendothelial migration (compare lane 2 with lane 3). Results presented are representative of three experiments.

 
Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as an inhibitor of endothelial cell NF{kappa}B (De Caterina et al., 1995; Spiecker et al., 1997, 1998; Umansky et al., 1998). Thus, it is quite possible that NO released from migrating PMN could have a negative impact on nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs. However, as shown in Fig. 4 A, inclusion of the NO inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 µM; Sigma-Aldrich) did not alter the inhibitory affect of migrating PMN on HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. Furthermore, addition of a NO donor (SIN at 300 µM for up to 2 h) to IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs also had no impact on nuclear NF{kappa}B (unpublished data). Finally, endothelial cells isolated from the hearts of wild-type mice were stimulated with IL-ß/PAF (recombinant mouse) and allowed to interact with PMN isolated from iNOS-deficient mice. These iNOS-deficient PMN were also capable of decreasing the levels of nuclear NF{kappa}B in endothelial cells (Fig. 4 B). Collectively, these observations do not support a role for NO in the negative effect of migrating PMN on endothelial cell nuclear NF{kappa}B.



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Figure 4. PMN-derived NO does not play a role in the negative impact of PMN transendothelial migration on nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–activated HUVECs. The experimental conditions were the same as described in Fig. 2 B, and nuclear extracts were assessed for NF{kappa}B content by EMSA. (A) An inhibitor of NO synthase (NG-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester) did not prevent the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–activated HUVECs induced by migrating PMN (compare lane 3 with lane 4). (B) PMN isolated from iNOS-deficient mice (iNOS-KO PMN) reduced endothelial cell nuclear NF{kappa}B to the same extent as PMN isolated from their wild-type counterparts (WT-PMN) when induced to migrate across IL-1ß–activated mouse cardiac endothelial cells by a PAF gradient (IL-1ß/PAF). Results are representative of three experiments.

 
Our findings that PMN-derived NO is not involved in the decrease in IL-1ß/PAF-induced increase in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B appear to contradict the results of previous studies indicating a role for NO in inhibiting cytokine induced activation of NF{kappa}B (De Caterina et al., 1995; Spiecker et al., 1997, 1998; Umansky et al., 1998). In the previous works, NO donors were coincubated with the cytokines, i.e., NO was being generated during cytokine stimulation. In the present paper, we assessed the role of NO in decreasing HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B after its activation and translocation to the nucleus. Thus, although NO may prevent cytokine-induced activation of NF{kappa}B, it may not be capable of decreasing nuclear NF{kappa}B after its accumulation within HUVEC nuclei.

Adhesive interactions with HUVECs play an important role in the decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B during PMN transendothelial migration
PMN adhesive interactions with endothelial cells mediated by CD18–ICAM-1 are a prerequisite for PMN transendothelial migration (Granger and Kubes, 1994; Kvietys et al., 1996; Panes and Granger, 1998; Wang and Springer, 1998). Thus, we assessed whether these adhesive interactions play a role in the decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B during PMN migration across HUVEC monolayers. To this end, we assessed the effects of an mAb directed to CD18 (IB4; 40 µg/ml) on the PMN-mediated decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs. As shown in Fig. 5 A, inclusion of the mAb prevented the decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B; the NF{kappa}B level was the same as in the absence of PMN–endothelial cell interactions. Based on previous works (Yoshida et al., 1992) and the present paper (legend to Fig. 5), the mAb directed to CD18 decreases adhesion of PMN to HUVECs and prevents the subsequent transendothelial migration (legend to Fig. 5). Although this approach provided useful information, it did not address the issue of whether PMN adhesion to HUVECs or PMN transendothelial migration, per se, was the critical event involved in the decrease in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. Thus, we next assessed the effects of fixed PMN in this system. Fixed PMN adhere to HUVECs, but do not migrate across the monolayers (Cepinskas et al. 1999. FASEB J. 13(4):A178, Abstract and legend to Fig. 5). Fixed PMN failed to induce a decrease in nuclear levels of NF{kappa}B in IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs (Fig. 5 B). Together, these findings suggest that the process of PMN transendothelial migration may be more important than the initial PMN adhesive interactions with HUVECs.



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Figure 5. PMN interactions with adhesion molecules on HUVECs play a role in the negative impact on nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by PMN transendothelial migration across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs. The experimental conditions were the same as described in Fig. 2 B, and nuclear extracts were assessed for NF{kappa}B content by EMSA. (A) An mAb directed to CD18 prevented the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs induced by migrating PMN (compare lane 3 with lane 4). (B) Interaction of fixed PMN with HUVECs did not have a negative impact on nuclear NF{kappa}B of IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs (lane 3). Results shown are representative of three experiments. 1-h transendothelial migration of PMN, PMN plus CD18 mAb, or fixed PMN were 80.3 ± 0.7, 16.4 ± 1.3, or 7.9 ± 1.4, respectively. 30-min adhesion of PMN, PMN plus CD18 mAb, or fixed PMN to HUVEC monolayers on nonporous surface were 20.1 ± 3.2, 5.7 ± 0.8, or 9.6 ± 0.9, respectively.

 
PMN adhesion to HUVECs and transendothelial migration is dependent on the interaction of adhesion molecules on both PMN and HUVECs. The firm adhesion of PMN to HUVECs is mediated by CD18–ICAM-1 (Granger and Kubes, 1994; Kvietys et al., 1996; Panes and Granger, 1998; Wang and Springer, 1998), and transendothelial migration is dependent on homotypic adhesive interactions between PECAM-1 on PMN and HUVECs (Muller, 1995; Liao et al., 1997; Thompson et al., 2001). Both ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 are constitutively expressed on HUVECs; with ICAM-1 expression being punctate on the entire surface, whereas PECAM-1 expression being more concentrated at the interendothelial junctions (Muller et al., 1989; Kishimoto et al., 1999). Furthermore, both endothelial ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 can induce intracellular signaling (Gurubhagavatula et al., 1998; Etienne-Manneville et al., 2000; O'Brien et al., 2001). Thus, we assessed whether cross-linking of ICAM-1 or PECAM-1 (in the absence of PMN) would influence the nuclear levels of NF{kappa}B in IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs. As shown in Fig. 6 A, cross-linking of ICAM-1 did not affect the nuclear levels of NF{kappa}B in IL-ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs (Fig. 6 A, compare lane 3 with lane 1). By contrast, cross-linking of PECAM-1 resulted in a decrease in HUVEC nuclear levels of NF{kappa}B (Fig. 6 A, compare lane 1 with lane 2). To further probe for a role for PECAM-1, endothelial cells derived from the hearts of PECAM-1–deficient mice were activated with mouse recombinant IL-1ß/PAF and allowed to interact with mouse PMN in the migration assay. As shown in Fig. 6 B, PMN did not decrease the levels of nuclear NF{kappa}B in PECAM-1–deficient endothelial cells. In control experiments, we noted that PMN migrating across endothelial cells from wild-type mice (expressing PECAM-1) did decrease nuclear NF{kappa}B (Fig. 6 C). Collectively, these observations suggest that engagement of PECAM-1 (but not ICAM-1) on endothelial cells by migrating PMN plays an important role in decreasing the IL-1ß/PAF-induced accumulation of NF{kappa}B in endothelial cell nuclei.



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Figure 6. Engagement of PECAM-1 on endothelial cells plays a role in the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–activated endothelial cells. (A) HUVEC monolayers were stimulated with IL-1ß/PAF and ICAM-1 or PECAM-1 were cross-linked as described in Materials and methods. Cross-linking of PECAM-1 (mAb-PECAM-1), but not ICAM-1 (mAb-ICAM-1), resulted in a decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs in the absence of PMN. (B) Cardiac endothelial cells were isolated from wild-type mice (lanes 1, 2, and 5) or PECAM-1–deficient mice (lane 3, The Jackson Laboratory; lane 4, obtained from Dr. W.A. Muller). Mouse PMN adhesive interactions with PECAM-1–deficient endothelial cells did not affect the increase in nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by IL-1ß/PAF. In these experiments, 58% (lane 3) and 54% (lane 4) of the PMN migrated across PECAM-1–deficient endothelial cells after 1 h of coincubation. (C) Mouse PMN adhesive interactions with endothelial cells from wild-type mice (expressing PECAM-1) reduced endothelial cell nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by IL-1ß/PAF. Results shown are representative of three experiments.

 
The decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by PMN transendothelial migration has functional consequences
Next, we assessed whether any functional consequences relevant to inflammation were realized by this ability of migrating PMN to decrease nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß/PAF-activated HUVECs. Our approach was to stimulate HUVEC monolayers with IL-1ß/PAF as in the previous experiments. Subsequently, these monolayers were either interacted with PMN or not. 1 or 12 h later, the HUVEC monolayers were restimulated with IL-1ß/PAF, and three endpoints relevant to inflammation were assessed: (1) nuclear mobilization of NF{kappa}B; (2) HUVEC surface levels of ICAM-1; and (3) PMN transendothelial migration. Because the results obtained with a 1-h hiatus between cytokine challenges were qualitatively and quantitatively similar, only the data obtained with a 12-h hiatus are presented and discussed.

The effects of PAF-induced PMN transendothelial migration across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs on the nuclear levels of NF{kappa}B after a subsequent stimulation of HUVECs with IL-1ß are shown in Fig. 7 A. Lanes 1–3 of Fig. 7 A show that IL-1ß can induce an increase in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B that is dramatically decreased if PMN are allowed to migrate across the HUVEC monolayers. If PMN were not interacted with the HUVEC monolayers, a second challenge with IL-1ß resulted in a greater increase in nuclear accumulation of NF{kappa}B than that noted with the first challenge (Fig. 7 A, lane 4). If PMN were allowed to migrate across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVEC monolayers, the second challenge with IL-1ß did not result in an increase in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B. These findings indicate that allowing PMN to migrate across HUVEC monolayers initially challenged with IL-1ß renders them refractory to a second challenge in terms of NF{kappa}B mobilization to the HUVEC nucleus.



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Figure 7. The decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B induced by PMN migrating across IL-1ß/PAF-stimulated HUVECs has functional consequences with respect to the inflammatory process. HUVEC monolayers were stimulated with IL-1ß/PAF (I) for 4 h, and subsequently were interacted with PMN or not interacted with PMN. 12 h later, the HUVEC monolayers were rechallenged with IL-1ß/PAF (II) for 4 h, and various endpoints relevant to inflammation were assessed. (A) If PMN were not reacted with HUVECs after the first challenge, the second challenge resulted in a greater level of nuclear NF{kappa}B as detected by EMSA (lane 4). If PMN transendothelial migration was induced after the first challenge, the second challenge did not result in nuclear accumulation of NF{kappa}B (lane 5). Lane 6 shows data obtained when IL-1ß/PAF stimulation was maintained over the entire experimental period of 16 h (control). Results shown are representative of three experiments. (B) If PMN were not interacted with HUVECs after the first challenge, the second challenge resulted in greater HUVEC surface levels of ICAM-1 as detected by cell ELISA (bar 4). If PMN transendothelial migration was induced after the first challenge, the second challenge resulted in less ICAM-1 induction on the surface of ICAM-1 (compare bar 4 with bar 5). n = 3. (C) If PMN were not interacted with HUVECs after the first challenge, the second challenge resulted in the same degree of PMN transendothelial migration as after the first challenge (compare bar 2 with bar 3). If PMN transendothelial migration was induced after the first challenge, the second challenge resulted in less PMN transendothelial migration (bar 4). n = 3. Dark bars in B and C show data obtained when IL-1ß/PAF stimulation was maintained over the entire experimental period of 16 h (control).

 
The effects of PAF-induced PMN transendothelial migration across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs on ICAM-1 expression on the surface of HUVECs after a subsequent challenge of HUVECs with IL-1ß are shown in Fig. 7 B. The initial stimulation increased ICAM-1 surface expression on HUVECs. The surface levels of ICAM-1 were not affected by subsequent induction of PMN transendothelial migration. If PMN were not interacted with the HUVEC monolayers after the initial challenge, a second challenge with IL-1ß resulted in a greater increase in surface levels of ICAM-1 than that observed after the first challenge. If PMN were allowed to migrate across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs, the second challenge with IL-1ß resulted in a diminished increase in ICAM-1 surface levels on HUVECs as compared with the initial challenge with IL-1ß. In general, cytokine-induced expression of ICAM-1 on HUVECs reaches maximal levels within 6–8 h, and this enhanced expression is maintained for up to 72 h (Kvietys and Granger, 1993). In the present work, ICAM-1 expression on HUVECs was less after the second cytokine challenge than the first, if PMN were allowed to migrate across the monolayers (Fig. 7 B; compare bar 4 with bar 5). The exact explanation for this observation is not entirely clear. One explanation may be that during PMN transendothelial migration, PMN-derived elastase becomes associated with HUVECs (Cepinskas et al., 1999a) and proteolytically cleaves ICAM-1 (Champagne et al., 1998). Irrespective of the explanation, our findings suggest that allowing PMN to migrate across HUVEC monolayers renders them refractory to a second challenge with respect to induction of an increase in HUVEC surface levels of ICAM-1.

The effects of PAF-induced PMN transendothelial migration across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs on the PMN transendothelial migration after a subsequent challenge of HUVECs with IL-1ß are shown in Fig. 7 C. The initial stimulation with IL-1ß resulted in an increase in PMN transendothelial migration in response to a chemotactic gradient induced by PAF. If PMN were not allowed to interact with the HUVEC monolayers after the initial challenge with IL-1ß, PAF-induced PMN migration after the second challenge with IL-1ß was similar to that noted after the first IL-1ß challenge. If the PMN were allowed to migrate across the HUVEC monolayers after the initial challenge with IL-1ß, the PAF-induced PMN transendothelial migration after the second IL-1ß challenge was reduced by ~45% (Fig. 7 C, compare bar 2 with bar 4).


   Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
During the systemic inflammatory response, circulating cytokines interact with the vascular endothelium, resulting in the activation and nuclear translocation of NF{kappa}B (Collins et al., 1995; Winyard and Blake, 1997). In turn, NF{kappa}B transactivates genes encoding for various cytokines. This results in a positive feedback loop that could amplify the inflammatory response, a situation that could be potentially detrimental to the host. Fortunately, there are negative feedback mechanisms in place that limit an excessive and prolonged inflammatory response on NF{kappa}B translocation to the nucleus. For example, in addition to transactivating various proinflammatory genes, NF{kappa}B also transactivates the gene encoding for its inhibitory protein, I{kappa}B (Brown et al., 1993; Baldwin, 1996). I{kappa}B binds to NF{kappa}B and prevents further translocation of this nuclear transcription factor, thereby preventing an excessive, uncontrolled inflammatory response. In the present paper, we provide evidence for the existence of another negative feedback mechanism impacting on NF{kappa}B. We show that the IL-1ß–induced increase in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B can be dramatically reduced by PMN transendothelial migration (Figs. 25). In addition, we provide evidence to implicate PECAM-1 in this negative feedback mechanism (Fig. 6). To our knowledge, this is first demonstration of the existence of this novel negative feedback on NF{kappa}B.

During the course of our experiments, we were aware of one potential caveat to the interpretation of the data. Previous works have shown that, during preparation of samples of endothelial cell monolayers for assay, any PMN associated with the monolayers could lead to artificial proteolysis of proteins under investigation (Moll et al., 1998). In our experiments, we minimized the potential for this artifact to impact on our results in two ways. For EMSA, we allowed the PMN to completely leave the apical aspect of the HUVEC monolayers, and we maximized the antiproteolytic activity of the buffers used to extract nuclear proteins (McDonald et al., 1997). In addition, we used another approach to assess the negative impact of PMN transendothelial migration on the IL-1ß–induced increase in HUVEC nuclear NF{kappa}B, i.e., confocal microscopy (Fig. 2). This approach involved the fixation of all cells under study, and thus prevented PMN degranulation during sample preparation. Finally, addition of the PMN protease (elastase) directly to IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs had no impact on nuclear NF{kappa}B. Together, these observations indicate that artifactual proteolysis was not an issue in our experiments.

PMN adhesion to HUVECs and transendothelial migration is dependent on the interaction of adhesion molecules on both PMN and HUVECs. The firm adhesion of PMN to HUVECs is mediated by CD18–ICAM-1 (Granger and Kubes, 1994; Kvietys et al., 1996; Panes and Granger, 1998; Wang and Springer, 1998), whereas transendothelial migration is dependent on homotypic adhesive interactions between PECAM-1 on PMN and HUVECs (Muller, 1995; Liao et al., 1997; Thompson et al., 2001). Furthermore, both endothelial ICAM-I and PECAM-1 can induce intracellular signaling. Cross-linking of ICAM-1 on rat brain endothelial cells promotes intracellular calcium signaling that results in cytoskeletal rearrangement and facilitates lymphocyte transendothelial migration (Etienne-Manneville et al., 2000). Interestingly, recent works indicate that ICAM-1 transfected into CHO cells can support PMN migration across these transfected CHO monolayers; an effect requiring the presence of the cytoplasmic domain of ICAM-1 (Sans et al., 2001). This latter observation indicates that ICAM-1 can contribute to PMN transendothelial migration. Finally, engagement of PECAM-1 on HUVECs with antibodies results in intracellular signaling (increased intracellular calcium); an effect that requires the presence of the intracellular domain (Gurubhagavatula et al., 1998; O'Brien et al., 2001). Thus, we assessed whether cross-linking of either ICAM-1 or PECAM-1 (in the absence of PMN) would have an impact on the levels of nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs. Of these two endothelial cell adhesion molecules implicated in PMN transendothelial migration, only engagement and cross-linking of PECAM-1 was capable of mimicking the effects of PMN transendothelial migration on nuclear NF{kappa}B in cytokine-stimulated HUVECs (Fig. 6 A). Furthermore, the IL-1ß–induced increase in nuclear NF{kappa}B was unaffected by PMN adhesive interactions with endothelial cells derived from PECAM-1–deficient mice (Fig. 6 B). A role for PECAM-1 (but not ICAM-1) in intracellular signaling has also been shown in another system (Ferrero et al., 2003). The specific intracellular signals that are initiated by engagement of endothelial cell PECAM-1 by PMN to decrease nuclear NF{kappa}B are, at present, unclear and warrant further attention.

Our findings also indicate that the decrease in nuclear NF{kappa}B in IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs by migrating PMN has functional consequences relevant to the inflammatory process. When PMN transendothelial migration was allowed to occur across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs, a subsequent challenge with IL-1ß resulted in less (1) nuclear NF{kappa}B accumulation; (2) ICAM-1 surface levels; and (3) PMN transendothelial migration (Fig. 7). It is worth noting that although there is a striking loss of NF{kappa}B under these circumstances, there are only modest decreases in surface levels of ICAM-1 (48%) and PMN transendothelial migration (45%). These observations indicate that other factors besides NF{kappa}B maybe involved in the residual proinflammatory response observed after the second challenge with the cytokine. There may be nuclear transcription factors that are not negatively impacted by PMN migration which may contribute to the inflammatory response. Alternatively, the residual response may be independent of nuclear transcription factors, i.e., other as yet unidentified proinflammatory mediators may be involved. Irrespective of the explanation, these observations indicate that allowing PMN to migrate across IL-1ß–stimulated HUVECs results in a decreased proinflammatory response to a second IL-1ß challenge.

The phenomenon described herein is very reminiscent of the development of tolerance to cytokine or LPS stimulation in a variety of cells (Fraker et al., 1988; Laegreid et al., 1995; Lush et al., 2000). However, there is a major difference in the development of this refractoriness to cytokine stimulation between classical tolerance and the tolerance described in the present paper. In classical tolerance, an initial challenge with a cytokine or oxidant stress results in a decreased responsiveness to a subsequent challenge with the same stimulus (Cepinskas et al., 1999b; Lush et al., 2000); an effect independent of PMN interactions with the cells. In the present paper, we have provided evidence that allowing for PMN transendothelial migration between the two challenges can also result in the development of tolerance. To our knowledge, this is the first direct demonstration of such a phenomenon. Further studies are warranted to unravel the mechanisms involved in the development of this form of tolerance.


   Materials and methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
Induction of sepsis in mice
Sepsis was induced in wild-type (C57BL/6) and ICAM-1–deficient mice (C57BL/6 background; Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories) by CLP as described previously (Astiz et al., 1994; Kato et al., 1995; Lush et al., 2001). The mice were anesthetized with a subcutaneous injection of 150 mg/kg ketamine and 7.5 mg/kg xylazine. After a midline incision, the cecum was exposed, ligated at the level of the ileo-cecal valve, and its contents expelled by an incision at the antimesenteric border. The laparotomy was closed and a 1-ml subcutaneous injection of saline was given for fluid resuscitation. Sham-operated mice underwent laparotomy, but no cecal ligation or perforation. 6 h after induction of CLP, the hearts and lungs of the mice were harvested and tissue processed for assessment of (1) tissue accumulation of PMN; and (2) the presence of NF{kappa}B in nuclear extracts. PMN accumulation was assessed by measuring tissue MPO activity as described previously (Lush et al., 2001). NF{kappa}B accumulation in nuclear extracts was assessed by the EMSA as described in the EMSA for NF{kappa}B section (Neviere et al., 1999).

Endothelial cells
HUVECs were harvested from umbilical cords by collagenase treatment and cultured as described previously (Yoshida et al., 1992; Cepinskas et al., 1999a). Primary through second passage HUVECs were used in experiments. When necessary, mouse (C57BL/6 wild type or PECAM-1 deficient on C57BL/6 background; The Jackson Laboratory and gift from Dr. W. Muller) myocardial endothelial cells were harvested as described previously (Rui et al., 2001).

Leukocytes
Human neutrophilic PMN were isolated from venous blood of healthy adults using standard dextran sedimentation and gradient separation on HISTOPAQUE®-1077 (Sigma-Aldrich; Cepinskas et al., 1999b). This procedure yields a PMN population that is 95–98% viable (trypan blue exclusion) and 98% pure (acetic acid-crystal violet staining). When necessary, PMN cytoplasts (neutroplasts) were prepared as described previously (Cepinskas et al., 1999a). In brief, PMN in 12.5% Ficoll solution were layered over a discontinuous gradient of 16 and 25% Ficoll and centrifuged at 81,000 g. Neutroplasts were harvested from the 12.5%/16% interface. This procedure yields a population of anucleated PMN devoid of granules. For some experiments, PMN were fixed for 5 min using 3% PFA in PBS. When necessary, PMN were isolated from whole blood of mice (C57BL/6 wild type or iNOS-deficient on C57BL/6 background; The Jackson Laboratory) by centrifugation on a NIM-2 gradient (Cardinal Associates, Inc.).

PMN transendothelial migration
PMN transendothelial migration was assessed as described previously (Cepinskas et al., 1997, 1999a). Endothelial cells were grown to confluence on 25 µg/ml fibronectin-coated Falcon cell culture inserts (3-µm-diam pores) and stimulated with 1 ng/ml IL-1ß (R&D Systems) for 4 h. Neutrophils were added to the endothelial cell monolayers and allowed to migrate across them for 1 h in the presence of PAF (10-10 M; Sigma-Aldrich) in the basal compartment. This period of time was sufficient to ensure that the bulk of the PMN had traversed the monolayer. To quantitate changes in the rate of PMN transendothelial migration, PMN were labeled with 51Cr, and PMN migration was assessed 30 min after coincubation with HUVEC monolayers, i.e., before PMN transendothelial migration was complete.

EMSA for NF{kappa}B
Nuclear protein from whole tissue or endothelial cells was extracted as described previously (McDonald et al., 1997; Cepinskas et al., 1999b). For EMSA, 3 µg of total nuclear proteins was incubated with 1.0 pmol of double-stranded {gamma}[32P]ATP end-labeled oligonucleotides containing consensus binding sequences for NF-{kappa}B (sense strand 5'-AGGGACTTTCCGCTGGGGACTTTCC-3') in a binding buffer (10 mM Hepes, pH 7.9, 80 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgCl2, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 1 mM PMSF, and 10% glycerol) as described previously (Bielinska et al., 1990; Cepinskas et al., 1999b). After electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions (0.5x TBE buffer), the gels were dried and the radioactive bands were visualized on X-ray films.

Laser scanning confocal microscopy for NF{kappa}B
HUVECs were prepared for immunofluorescence analysis as described previously (Cepinskas et al., 1999a). HUVECs were treated with 2 µg/ml rabbit pAb NF{kappa}B p65 (A; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) and Texas red–conjugated secondary goat anti–rabbit IgG (Molecular Probes, Inc.). The nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33342. The distribution of HUVEC NF{kappa}B p65 subunits was analyzed by confocal microscopy.

Cell ELISA for ICAM-1
Cell surface levels of ICAM-1 were measured as described previously (Lush et al., 2000). In brief, PFA-fixed (3%) HUVECs were incubated with primary mAb directed against ICAM-1 (RR1/1, IgG1; Biosource International). The antibody binding intensity was evaluated using a Mouse Extravidin Peroxidase Staining Kit (Sigma-Aldrich).

Adhesion molecule cross-linking
Cross-linking of ICAM-1 was induced as described previously (Etienne-Manneville et al., 2000) with some modifications. In brief, HUVECs were grown in 35-mm Petri dishes and stimulated with 1 ng/ml IL-1ß for 4 h. HUVEC ICAM-1 was engaged by treatment of HUVECs with a primary mAb (20 µg/ml) directed against ICAM-1 (RR1/1, IgG1; Biosource International) for 30 min, and cross-linking was induced by subsequent addition of 5 µg/ml rabbit anti–mouse antibodies (DakoCytomation) for an additional 30 min. Cross-linking of PECAM-1 was done in a similar manner (Berman and Muller, 1995; Gurubhagavatula et al., 1998) using an mAb (20 µg/ml) against PECAM-1 (hec7, IgG2a; a gift from Dr. W.A. Muller, Cornell University School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY).


   Acknowledgments
 
The authors wish to thank Dr. W.A. Muller for his gifts of the PECAM-1 antibody and PECAM-1–deficient mice.

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants MOP 44010 (to G. Cepinskas), and MOP 37758 and 13668 (to P.R. Kvietys).

Submitted: 5 December 2002

Revised: 21 March 2003

Accepted: 25 March 2003


   References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 

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