We describe a new method for subcellular fractionation of human neutrophils. Neutrophils were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation and the nuclei removed by centrifugation. The postnuclear supernatant was applied on top of a discontinuous Percoll density gradient. Centrifugation for 15 rain at 48,000 g resulted in complete separation of plasma membranes, azurophil granules, and specific granules. As determined by ultrastructure and the distribution of biochemical markers of these organelles, ~90% of the b-cytochrome in unstimulated cells was recovered from the band containing the specific granules and was shown to be in or tightly associated with the membrane. During stimulation of intact neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate or the ionophore A23187, we observed translocation of 40-75% of the bcytochrome to the plasma membrane. The extent of this translocation closely paralleled release of the specific granule marker, vitamin B12-binding protein. These data indicate that the b-cytochrome is in the membrane of the specific granules of unstimulated neutrophils and that stimulus-induced fusion of these granules with the plasma membrane results in a translocation of the cytochrome. Our observations provide a basis for the assembly of the microbicidal oxidase of the human neutrophil.

In the current environment of diverse product pipelines, rapidly fluctuating market demands and growing competition from biosimilars, biotechnology companies are increasingly driven to develop innovative solutions for highly flexible and cost-effective manufacturing. To address these challenging demands, integrated continuous processing, comprised of high-density perfusion cell culture and a directly coupled continuous capture step, can be used as a universal biomanufacturing platform. This study reports the first successful demonstration of the integration of a perfusion bioreactor and a four-column periodic counter-current chromatography (PCC) system for the continuous capture of candidate protein therapeutics. Two examples are presented: (1) a monoclonal antibody (model of a stable protein) and (2) a recombinant human enzyme (model of a highly complex, less stable protein). In both cases, high-density perfusion CHO cell cultures were operated at a quasi-steady state of 50-60 × 10(6) cells/mL for more than 60 days, achieving volumetric productivities much higher than current perfusion or fed-batch processes. The directly integrated and automated PCC system ran uninterrupted for 30 days without indications of time-based performance decline. The product quality observed for the continuous capture process was comparable to that for a batch-column operation. Furthermore, the integration of perfusion cell culture and PCC led to a dramatic decrease in the equipment footprint and elimination of several non-value-added unit operations, such as clarification and intermediate hold steps. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrated continuous bioprocessing as a universal platform for the manufacture of various kinds of therapeutic proteins.

Human platelets stimulated by epinephrine undergo enhanced turnover of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, accumulate inositol trisphosphate, diacylglycerol, and phosphatidic acid, and phosphorylate a 47-kDa protein.All of these phenomena indicate stimulation of phospholipase C. These responses are blocked completely by inhibitors of a2-adrenergic receptors (yohimbine), cyclooxygenase (aspirin or indomethacin), phospholipase A [2-(p-amylcinnamnoyl)amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid (ONO-RS-082)], Na+/H+ exchange [ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA)], fibrinogen binding to glycoprotein [lb/I11a (antibody A2A9), Ca2+/Mg' binding (EDTA), or removal of fibrinogen. Epinephrine evokes (i) an increased turnover of ester-linked arachidonic acid in aspirintreated platelets that is inhibited by ONO-RS-082, EDTA, yohinbine, or the absence of fibrinogen and (ii) a rapid cytoplasmic alkalinization that is inhibited partially by blockage of cyclooxygenase activity and completely by A2A9 or EIPA. In contrast, when incubated with subaggregatory concentrations of the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 analogue [(15S)-hydroxy-1 ia,9a-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic acid (U46619) and epinephrine, aspirin-treated platelets show a potentiation of phospholipase C activation that is unaffected by the above inhibitors. We propose that epinephrine, in promoting exposure of glycoprotein Ilb/ia sites for fibrinogen binding, leads to a cytoplasmic alkalinization, which, in conjunction with local shifts in Ca2 , promotes low-level activation of phospholipase A. The resulting free arachidonic acid is converted to cyclooxygenase products, which, potentiated by epinephrine, activate phospholipase C. This further amplifies the initial stimulatory response.Human platelets undergo aggregation and secretion of granule contents following exposure to epinephrine in the presence of fibrinogen and Ca2". Accompanying such activation is an enhanced turnover of phosphatidylinositol catalyzed by phospholipase C (PLC), indicated in earlier studies by stimulated incorporation of [3H]glycerol (1, 2), diacylglycerol accumulation, and activation of protein kinase C (3). However, human platelet adrenergic receptors have been characterized as being primarily of the a2 subclass (4, 5), which, in other tissues, is not linked with phosphatidylinositol phosphate turnover (6).A resolution of this paradox may lie in a report that epinephrine-stimulated generation of [32P]phosphatidic acid (PtdOH), an indirect indicator of PLC activation, can be inhibited by aspirin (7). This implies a possible role for the cyclooxygenase-catalyzed oxygenation of arachidonic acid in mediating the process of PLC activation in response to epinephrine. Recently, investigators have found that epinephrine promotes arachidonic acid mobilization (a precondition for cyclooxygenase action) in a manner dependent upon Na+/H+ exchange (8). This mobilization was quantitated by measuring thromboxane B2 (TXB2), the stable metabolite of thromboxane A2, which is, in turn, formed by way of cyclooxygenase. ...

Recently, we demonstrated that human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) treated with chloroquine or ammonium chloride had markedly increased antifungal activity against the AIDS-related pathogenCryptococcus neoformans. Both of these agents raise the lysosomal pH, which suggested that the increased antifungal activity was a function of alkalinizing the phagolysosome. Moreover, there was an inverse correlation between growth of C. neoformans in cell-free media and pH. These data suggested that C. neoformans was well adapted to survive within acidic compartments. To test this hypothesis, we performed studies to determine the pH of human MDM and neutrophil phagosomes containingC. neoformans. Fungi were labeled with the isothiocyanate derivatives of two pH-sensitive probes: fluorescein and 2′,7′-difluorofluorescein (Oregon Green). These probes have pKas of 6.4 and 4.7, respectively, allowing sensitive pH detection over a broad range. The phagosomal pH averaged approximately 5 after ingestion of either live or heat-killed fungi and remained relatively constant over time, which suggested that C. neoformans does not actively regulate the pH of its phagosome. The addition of 10 and 100 μM chloroquine resulted in increases in the phagosomal pH from a baseline of 5.1 up to 6.5 and 7.3, respectively. Finally, by immunofluorescence, colocalization ofC. neoformans and the MDM lysosomal membrane protein LAMP-1 was demonstrated, establishing that fusion of C. neoformans-laden phagosomes with lysosomal compartments takes place. Thus, unlike many other intracellular pathogens, C. neoformans does not avoid fusion with macrophage lysosomal compartments but rather resides and survives in an acidic phagolysosome.

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It has long been appreciated that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) kill Cryptococcus neoformans, at least in part via generation of fungicidal oxidants. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of nonoxidative mechanisms to the inhibition and killing of C. neoformans. Treatment of human PMN with inhibitors and scavengers of respiratory burst oxidants only partially reversed anticryptococcal activity, suggesting that both oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms were operative. To define the mediators of nonoxidative anticryptococcal activity, PMN were fractionated into cytoplasmic, primary (azurophil) granule, and secondary (specific) granule fractions. Incubation of C. neoformans with these fractions for 18 h resulted in percents inhibition of growth of 67.4 ؎ 3.4, 84.6 ؎ 4.4, and 29.2 ؎ 10.5 (mean ؎ standard error, n ‫؍‬ 3), respectively. Anticryptococcal activity of the cytoplasmic fraction was abrogated by zinc and depletion of calprotectin. Antifungal activity of the primary granules was significantly reduced by pronase treatment, boiling, high ionic strength, and magnesium but not calcium. Fractionation of the primary granules by reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography on a C 4 column over an acetonitrile gradient revealed multiple peaks with anticryptococcal activity. Of these, peaks 1 and 6 had substantial fungistatic and fungicidal activity. Peak 1 was identified by acid-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and mass spectroscopy as human neutrophil proteins (defensins) 1 to 3. Analysis of peak 6 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE revealed multiple bands. Thus, human PMN have nonoxidative anticryptococcal activity residing principally in their cytoplasmic and primary granule fractions. Calprotectin mediates the cytoplasmic activity, whereas multiple proteins, including defensins, are responsible for activity of the primary granules.