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Characterization of extracellular nucleotide-induced Mac-1 (alphaM beta2 integrin) surface expression on peripheral

G K Akbar1, D C Mills, S P Kunapuli

  • 1Department of Physiology, Temple University Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.

Insights

Extracellular nucleotides stimulate white blood cells to increase Mac-1 expression, a key immune cell marker. This process may involve protein kinase C activation, impacting immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Extracellular nucleotides are released during vascular injury.
  • These nucleotides can stimulate hematopoietic cells, leading to physiological responses.
  • Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) is an important adhesion molecule on leukocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of extracellular nucleotides on Mac-1 expression in peripheral blood leukocytes.
  • To determine the specific nucleotides involved and the kinetics of Mac-1 expression.
  • To explore the signaling pathways, such as protein kinase C, mediating this effect.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of peripheral blood leukocytes with various nucleotides (ATP, ADP, UTP, etc.).
  • Flow cytometry analysis to quantify surface Mac-1 expression on monocytes and granulocytes.
  • Dose- and time-course experiments to determine optimal stimulation conditions.
  • Inhibition studies using Ro-31-8220, a protein kinase C inhibitor.

Main Results:

  • Nucleotides, particularly ATP, significantly increased Mac-1 surface expression on leukocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
  • Maximum Mac-1 expression was observed at 5 minutes with 10 microM ATP.
  • This effect was comparable to stimulation by formyl-Met-Leu-Phe and occurred on both monocytes and granulocytes.
  • Nucleotide-induced Mac-1 expression in granulocytes was fully inhibited by Ro-31-8220, suggesting protein kinase C involvement.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular nucleotides stimulate Mac-1 expression on peripheral blood leukocytes.
  • This stimulation is mediated, at least in part, by the activation of protein kinase C.
  • These findings highlight a novel role for nucleotides in regulating leukocyte function and immune responses.

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