Biochemical mechanisms that interact with membrane-associated IL-1 RII (60-kDa decoy) receptors in populations of adherent macrophages and vascular endothelium

• Published in: Cellular signalling 2001-10, Vol.13 (10), p.765-776
• Main Authors: Coyne, Cody, Baravick, Jeff, Howell, Trey, Baravick, Erica, Willetto, Carla, Fenwick, Brad W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cathepsin D - pharmacology; Cattle; Cell Adhesion; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Endopeptidases - pharmacology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Female; Macromolecular Substances; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Pepstatins - metabolism; Protease Inhibitors - pharmacology; Receptors, Interleukin-1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 0898-6568; 1873-3913
• DOI: 10.1016/S0898-6568(01)00196-6

The aim of this investigation was to identify the potential biochemical mechanisms that alter the integrity of membrane-associated IL-1 RII (decoy) receptor complexes expressed by populations of adherent macrophages and vascular endothelium. The initial research strategy utilized to achieve this objective involved delineating the ability of macrophage activation or exposure of macrophages and vascular endothelium to a spectrum of enzyme proteases to influence the expression of membrane-associated IL-1 RII (decoy) or generate soluble fragments of this receptor complex. Results from these investigations revealed that stimulated macrophages displayed proportional increases in both the expression of membrane-associated IL-1 RII (decoy) and release of soluble receptor fragments. Exposure of macrophages and vascular endothelium to the reference proteases discovered the ability of cathepsin-D to biochemically deplete membrane-associated IL-1 RII (decoy) in addition to generating soluble fragments of this receptor complex. Complementary investigations isolated a carboxyl/aspartate protease from activated macrophages utilizing pepstatin-A affinity chromatography. Exposure of vascular endothelium to pepstatin-A binding proteins resulted in a detectable depletion of membrane-associated IL-1 RII (decoy) and generation of soluble receptor fragments. Evaluation of pepstatin-A binding proteins by SDS-PAGE identified a primary protein fraction with a molecular mass of 47–52 kDa that closely correlates with the known molecular size of leukocyte cathepsin-D fractions. Macrophage pepstatin-A binding protein fractions evaluated by nondenaturing haemoglobin-substrate PAGE (Hb-PAGE) analysis detected a lucent proteolytic band at 47–52 kDa. Macrophage pepstatin-A binding proteins also hydrolyzed a synthetic enzyme-specific substrate that selectively recognizes cathepsin-D biochemical activity. In conclusion, the leukocyte carboxyl/aspartate protease cathepsin-D can biochemically alter the integrity and generate soluble fragments of membrane-associated IL-1 RII (60-kDa decoy) receptor complexes expressed by macrophages and vascular endothelium.