Biomedical subjects

F Dallegri

Publications and source records attributed to F Dallegri.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Chemoattractant-induced release of elastase by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed neutrophils; inhibitory effect of the anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide.

Human neutrophils, pre-exposed to low concentrations (1-10 ng/ml) of bacterial LPS in the presence of 1% autologous serum, released elastase activity in response to N-formyl-met-leu-phe (fMLP). Both cell incubation with LPS without subsequent fMLP stimulus and fMLP stimulation without prior exposure to LPS failed to promote significant elastase release. Therefore, LPS primes neutrophils for the subsequent release of elastase in response to fMLP. Compared with fMLP, human recombinant C5a had a slight although not significant activity, whereas other chemoattractants such as IL-8, platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4 were ineffective. The fMLP-induced response of LPS-primed neutrophils was susceptible to suppression by the methane-sulphonanilide anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide and RO 20-1724, which selectively inhibit cAMP-catabolizing phosphodiesterase type IV. This suggests that the elastase release by LPS-primed neutrophils is likely to be controlled by intracellular cAMP, and raises the possibility of limiting pharmacologically the elastase-mediated tissue injury during neutrophilic inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1996

Monoclonal Lym-1 antibody-dependent lysis of B-lymphoblastoid tumor targets by human complement and cytokinine-exposed mononuclear and neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Lym-1 is a murine IgG2a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a polymorphic variant of HLA-DR antigens on malignant B cells, with minimal cross-reactivity with normal tissues. Because it can be safely administered in vivo, a detailed knowledge of its ability to recruit and trigger the antitumor immune effector systems is required to optimize potential serotherapeutic approaches in B-lymphoma patients. By using Raji cells as a model of B-lymphoma targets, we found that Lym-1 activates complement-mediated lysis efficiently. Moreover, Lym-1 was capable of triggering the antibody-dependent cellular cytolysis (ADCC) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs). On the contrary, it failed to trigger neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-mediated ADCC activity. In an attempt to enhance Lym-1 ADCC by MNCs and PMNs, nine biologic response modifiers were tested. MNC-mediated Lym-1 ADCC was significantly stimulated by interleukin-2 (IL-2) and unaffected by other mediators, including gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), tumor necrosis factor a (TNFalpha), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). On the other hand, PMN-mediated Lym-1 ADCC was induced or significantly augmented by various cytokines, such as GM-CSF, TNFalpha, and gamma-IFN, and chemotaxins, such as formyl peptides (FMLP), complement fragment C5a, and IL-8. Both MNC- and PMN-mediated ADCC was unaffected by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G- CSF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Finally, only GM-CSF and TNFalpha augmented the number of PMNs actually engaged in the binding of Raji target cells. The findings presented here, in particular those showing stimulatory activity of biologic response modifiers, may inspire new attempts for developing Lym-1 antibody-based approaches to the therapy of B lymphomas.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Inhibitory effect of salmeterol on the respiratory burst of adherent human neutrophils.

Human neutrophils, plated in fibronectin-coated wells and stimulated with N-formyl-methionylleucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), were found to undergo a massive and prolonged respiratory burst, as measured by monitoring superoxide production. The beta 2-agonist salmeterol inhibited the respiratory burst in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, salbutamol was ineffective. Moreover, the neutrophil respiratory burst was partially suppressed by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE-IV) inhibitor RO 20-1724. When salmeterol was used in combination with PGE2 or RO 20-1724, additive inhibitory effects were observed. The inhibitory activity of salmeterol was not reversed in the presence of the beta-blocker propranolol, and did not correlate with its ability of increasing cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Finally, the compounds used did not affect neutrophil adherence to fibronectin-coated wells. The results suggest that salmeterol is capable of down-regulating the neutrophil oxidative response to fMLP, also of co-operating with PGE2 and PDE-IV inhibitor RO 20-1724 in a manner not related to its beta 2-receptor binding activity. In other words, salmeterol displays neutrophil-directed effects, susceptible to be amplified by natural mediators such as PGE2 or PDE-IV inhibitors, consistent with possible anti-inflammatory properties of the drug.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed1995

Sulphonamides as anti-inflammatory agents: old drugs for new therapeutic strategies in neutrophilic inflammation?

1. It is well known that neutrophils act as mediators of tissue injury in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Their histotoxic activity is presently thought to involve proteinases and oxidants, primarily hypochlorous acid (HOCl). This oxidant is also capable of inactivating the specific inhibitor of neutrophil elastase (alpha 1-antitrypsin), thereby favouring digestion of the connective matrix. 2. In the present work, we found that sulphanilamide and some sulphanilamide-related anti-inflammatory drugs such as dapsone, nimesulide and sulphapyridine reduce the availability of HOCl in the extracellular microenvironment of activated neutrophils and prevent the inactivation of alpha 1-antitrypsin by these cells in a dose-dependent manner. The ability of each drug to prevent alpha 1-antitrypsin from inactivation by neutrophils correlates significantly with its capacity to reduce the recovery of HOCl from neutrophils. Five other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were completely ineffective. 3. Therefore, sulphanilamide-related drugs, i.e. dapsone, nimesulide and sulphapyridine, have the potential to reduce the bioavailability of neutrophil-derived HOCl and, in turn, to favour the alpha 1-antitrypsin-dependent control of neutrophil elastolytic activity. These drugs appear as a well-defined group of agents which are particularly prone to attenuate neutrophil histotoxicity. They can also be viewed as a previously unrecognized starting point for the development of new compounds in order to plan rational therapeutic strategies for controlling tissue injury during neutrophilic inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMed1995

Tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced oxidative burst in neutrophils adherent to fibronectin: effects of cyclic AMP-elevating agents.

Human neutrophils, plated on fibronectin-coated polystyrene wells, were found to exhibit a prolonged production of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF). The TNF-triggered O2- production was significantly reduced by 10 microM prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which was ineffective at lower doses. Moreover, the O2- production was slightly reduced by the phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE IV) inhibitor RO 20-1724. When PGE2 and RO 20-1724 were added together to TNF-triggered neutrophils they caused a marked synergistic inhibition of O2- production. The action of PGE2 could be mimicked by forskolin (FK), a well-known direct activator of adenylate cyclase. These results suggest that cyclic AMP (cAMP)-elevating agents (PGE2, FK, RO 20-1724) down-regulate the capacity of adherent neutrophils to mount the respiratory burst in response to TNF. Consistent with this interpretation, PGE2 and RO 20-1724 increased the intracellular levels of cAMP displaying synergistic activity. Moreover, the membrane-permeable analogue of cAMP, dibutyryl cAMP, was found to inhibit the TNF-induced O2- production in a dose-dependent manner. As all the aforementioned cAMP-elevating agents did not affect the O2- production in response to phorbol myristate acetate, they appear to act by interfering with the assembly of the O2(-)-generating NADPH oxidase complex rather than by directly inhibiting the activity of already working oxidase complex. In conclusion, taking into account the TNF capacity to promote PGE2 formation at sites of inflammation, our observations suggest the existence of a negative PGE2-dependent feed-back, potentially capable of controlling the neutrophil response to TNF and susceptible to amplification by PDE IV-inhibiting compounds.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗

PubMed1995

Cyclic AMP-elevating agents down-regulate the oxidative burst induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in adherent neutrophils.

Human neutrophils, plated on fibronectin-precoated wells, were found to release large quantities of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to GM-CSF. O2- production was reduced by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE IV) inhibitor RO 20-1724. Both agents are known to increase intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels by inducing its production (PGE2) or blocking its catabolism (RO 20-1724). When added in combination, PGE2 and RO 20-1724 had a marked synergistic inhibitory effect, which was reproduced by replacing PGE2 with a direct activator of adenylate cyclase, i.e. forskolin (FK). Moreover, the neutrophil response to GM-CSF was inhibited by a membrane-permeable analogue of cAMP in a dose-dependent manner. As GM-CSF and PGE2 are known to be generated at tissue sites of inflammation, the results suggest the existence of a PGE2-dependent regulatory pathway potentially capable of controlling the neutrophil response to GM-CSF, in turn limiting the risk of local oxidative tissue injury. Moreover, owing to its susceptibility to amplification by RO 20-1724, the PGE2-dependent pathway and in particular PDE-IV may represent a pharmacological target to reduce the generation of histotoxic oxidants by GM-CSF-responding neutrophils.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗

PubMed1995

Neutrophil dysfunction and increased susceptibility to infection.

A critical evaluation of 3 years' experience using laboratory screening to detect neutrophil dysfunction is described. Neutrophil dysfunctions in patients with recurrent bacterial infections were investigated by using the following screening tests: (1) neutrophil chemotaxis towards N-formylmethionyl peptides (FMLP) and the complement fragment C5a; (2) neutrophil production of superoxide anions (O2-) in response to phorbol myristate acetate and opsonized zymosan particles; and (3) examination of May-Grünwald and myeloperoxidase cytochemical staining of peripheral blood smears. These tests were carried out in 100 patients suffering from infections and suspected of having altered neutrophil functional competence. A minority of patients was found to have well defined neutrophil dysfunction syndromes: chronic granulomatous disease (four cases), Chediak-Higashi disease (one case) and myeloperoxidase deficiency (one case). Of the remaining 94 patients, in whom infections localized to airways and/or skin predominated, 53 cases were found to have impaired chemotaxis (41 cases) or partial defects of the O2- production. Defects of chemotaxis toward FMLP and those towards both FLMP and C5a were the most frequent abnormalities. No defect was found in the other 41 patients. Moreover, impaired neutrophil chemotaxis was found in some patients with selective IgA deficiency (five cases) or immotile cilia syndrome (seven cases). The results suggest that (a) additional screening tests are required to ameliorate the efficiency of the diagnostic work-up of the patients suspected to have neutrophil dysfunction; and (b) further evaluation, also at the molecular level, should be considered at least in selected cases of non-classified neutrophil dysfunction in order to clarify diagnosis and plan rational therapeutic strategies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Possible modes of action of nimesulide in controlling neutrophilic inflammation.

Even in recent years the development of new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appears to be essentially driven by the archaic idea to protect humans from pain and other symptoms of inflammation. Very few attempts have been made to understand if any of these drugs can limit the tissue injury during one or several forms of inflammatory reaction. In studying the events underlying the development of the tissue injury during neutrophilic inflammation, it was found that at least a NSAID, i.e. nimesulide (CAS 51803-78-2), has high potential to interfere efficiently with the major pathway responsible for neutrophil-dependent histotoxicity. Other chemically related drugs, not classified as NSAIDs but used in disease conditions characterized by neutrophilic inflammation, i.e. dapsone and sulfapyridine, have similar activities. Therefore, it is suggested that derivates from sulfanilamide (nimesulide, dapsone and sulfapyridine) are the major candidates for developing rational therapeutic anti-inflammatory strategies for controlling the development of tissue injury during neutrophilic inflammation. Also, these molecules might serve to drive the synthesis of new histoprotective antiinflammatory drugs.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Nimesulide decreases superoxide production by inhibiting phosphodiesterase type IV.

Nimesulide, the prototype of a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs, dose-dependently decreases the production of the superoxide anion (O2-.) in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)- and in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The inhibition of O2-. is possibly related to its inhibitory effect on polymorphonuclear leukocyte cytosolic phosphodiesterase type IV (IC50 = 39 +/- 2 microM), to the related increase in cAMP (P < 0.01 at 1 microM) and the subsequent increase in protein kinase A activity. In fact H-89, a specific protein kinase A inhibitor, counteracts the inhibitory effect of nimesulide on O2-. production by fMLP and PMA. The activation of protein kinase A may prompt the phosphorylation of a number of substrates, thus inhibiting the assembly of NADPH-oxidase in the plasma membrane. Accordingly, nimesulide decreases PMA-induced assembly of NADPH-oxidase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes plasma membranes by about 35%. Protein kinase A activation may also interfere with chemotaxis. Nimesulide inhibits stimulated chemotaxis and the effect is decreased by H-89. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase type IV may explain many of nimesulide's effects.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1994

Triggering of respiratory burst by tumor necrosis factor in neutrophils adherent to fibronectin. Evidence for a crucial role of CD18 glycoproteins.

Human neutrophils, plated on fibronectin (FN)-coated wells, were found to release large quantities of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The O2- release was completely inhibited by two monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs, MHM23 and TS1/18) against CD18 glycoproteins. An independently derived anti-CD18 MoAb (60.3) was ineffective. These MoAbs failed to inhibit neutrophil adhesion to FN-coated surfaces. Moreover, neutrophils incubated for 30 min on FN and then washed to remove non-adherent cells, were responsive to TNF-alpha in the presence of anti-CD18 MoAbs MHM23 and TS1/18. Consequently, the CD18-dependent capacitation of the respiratory burst can occur before TNF-alpha triggering. Finally, neutrophils plated on FN in the presence of anti-CD18 MoAbs and then washed, i.e. adherent cells blocked in their surface CD18 molecules, released O2- after adding TNF-alpha but only in the absence of additional anti-CD18 MoAbs. This is consistent with a TNF-alpha ability to induce rapid expression and activation of new oxidative burst-capacitating CD18 molecules. The results suggest that the anchorage of neutrophils to FN surfaces depends on adherence molecules apparently unrelated to CD18, probably the so-called fibronectin receptors (FNRs), whereas the capacitation of the respiratory burst in response to TNF-alpha requires the intervention of CD18 glycoproteins, available on the membrane of "resting" neutrophils or mobilized to the cell surface by TNF-alpha.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1994

Proteolytic inactivation of alpha-1-antitrypsin by human neutrophils: involvement of multiple and interlinked cell responses to phagocytosable targets.

Neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) can inactivate the PMN-elastase inhibitor alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) proteolytically, by using metalloproteinases normally stored as zymogens in myeloperoxidase (MPO)-negative granules. Supernatants from opsonized zymosan (OPZ)-triggered human PMN cleaved and inactivated human A1AT through a process inhibitable by metal-chelators, suggesting that the interaction of PMN with OPZ leads to the extracellular availability of active metalloenzymes. During OPZ-triggering, PMN used approximately 80% of the generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce HOCl by means of the MPO pathway, while the remainder was catabolized by PMN themselves. No H2O2 was available as free compound in the extracellular environment and hydroxyl (.OH) or .OH-like radicals were not generated. The selective deletion of single components of the HOCl-generating MPO pathway resulted in the generation of PMN supernatants free of active metalloenzymes but rich of the corresponding zymogens. Similar results were obtained by replacing normal PMN with cells from a patient with hereditary MPO deficiency. No evidence was obtained for the intervention or contribution of .OH-like radicals, serine-proteinases and oxidized glutathione in the transformation of the zymogens into enzymes able to inactivate A1AT. On concluding, PMN undergoing phagocytosis release MPO in amount sufficient to handle the extracellular pool of the generated H2O2 entirely, leading to the generation of equimolar amounts of HOCl. In turn, HOCl or a similar compound derived from it interacts with concomitantly released metallozymogens, switching on their A1AT inactivating potential without the apparent contribution of other PMN-derived molecules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Free Radicals↗

PubMed1994

Effects of naftifine and terbinafine, two allylamine antifungal drugs, on selected functions of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Many antimycotic agents negatively affect the natural immune response. Typically, these drugs impair polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) production of superoxide anion, chemotaxis, or the killing of pathogens. Allylamines are a new class of antimycotic compounds with a new mechanism of antifungal action, i.e., inhibition of the fungal squalene epoxidase. The trial that we describe aimed to evaluate the effects of two allylamines, terbinafine and naftifine, on selected functions of PMNs, i.e., superoxide anion production, chemotaxis, and killing of Candida albicans blastospores. Terbinafine and naftifine on their own did not affect superoxide anion production when they were added to PMNs. When PMNs were preincubated with allylamines and were then stimulated by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, superoxide anion production was increased (priming effect). Since intracellular free calcium (Ca2+i) is involved in the control of superoxide anion production, we evaluated the effects of the allylamines on the Ca2+i concentration ([Ca2+]i). In the presence of terbinafine or naftifine, the [Ca2+]i increased in a dose-dependent manner; the source of Ca2+i was not extracellular since it was not affected by extracellular calcium chelation with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. In the presence of terbinafine or naftifine, chemotaxis of PMNs was not impaired. Terbinafine and naftifine slightly but significantly increased the killing of C. albicans blastospores (P < 0.05 at 10 and 100 microM). In conclusion, in contrast to imidazole-like drugs, the allylamine antimycotic compounds terbinafine and naftifine enhance selected functions of PMNs.

Allylamine↗

PubMed1994

The anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide inhibits neutrophil adherence to and migration across monolayers of cytokine-activated endothelial cells.

Neutrophil migration through the microvascular endothelium represents a fundamental event for the cell accumulation at sites of tissue injury. Owing to their capacity to modify the structural and functional characteristics of endothelial cells, inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) play a pivotal role in directing circulating neutrophils away from the bloodstream to the interstitial tissue. In order to study neutrophil transendothelial migration, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were grown to confluence on the polycarbonate filter of two-compartment migration chambers. Pretreatment of the endothelial cell monolayers with TNF alpha for 4 h resulted in rapid migration of approximately 50% of subsequently added neutrophils across the layers. In contrast, < 10% of added neutrophils penetrated untreated endothelial monolayers. Using TNF alpha-treated endothelium, neutrophil transmigration was inhibited by the methane sulfonanilide anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide. Moreover, neutrophil adherence to TNF alpha-treated endothelial monolayers, cultured in microtiter wells, was markedly reduced by nimesulide. A linear correlation between the drug-dependent inhibition of neutrophil transmigration and neutrophil adherence was found. Finally, nimesulide did not interfere with the TNF alpha ability to convert resting endothelium into a pro-adhesive and pro-locomotory cell layer. The data suggest that nimesulide reduces neutrophil transendothelial migration primarily by limiting the cell anchorage to the TNF alpha-activated endothelium. Therefore, the drug has the potential to down-regulate neutrophil extravasation and, in turn, the burden of neutrophil oxidants and proteases leading to tissue injury at sites of inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1993

Induction of neutrophil respiratory burst by tumour necrosis factor-alpha; priming effect of solid-phase fibronectin and intervention of CD11b-CD18 integrins.

Human neutrophils, added to fibronectin (FN)-coated polystyrene wells and exposed to tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), were found to exhibit a prolonged production of superoxide anion (O2-) after a lag period of approx 30 min. The O2- production, but not the cell adherence to FN, was completely inhibited by two MoAbs against CD18 and by a MoAb against CD11b, suggesting the involvement of CD11b-CD18 integrins in the neutrophil oxidative response. When neutrophils were induced to adhere to FN by incubation for 30 min on FN-coated surfaces and then washed to remove non-adherent cells, FN-anchored cells exhibited a rapid onset of O2- production in response to TNF-alpha. This suggests that FN primes neutrophils for the TNF-alpha-mediated respiratory burst. The O2- production by adherent neutrophils could be inhibited by anti-CD11b and anti-CD18 MoAbs only when the MoAbs were present both during the induction of adherence and during the subsequent exposure of FN-bound cells to TNF-alpha. The incapacity of MoAbs, added to neutrophils during the induction of adherence, to modify the characteristics of the subsequent neutrophil response to TNF-alpha suggests that the FN-mediated cell priming is independent of the interaction of CD11b-CD18 integrins with the FN substrate. The results are consistent with the intervention of three classes of cell receptors in the TNF-alpha-induced oxidative burst of neutrophils plated on FN: (i) neutrophil FN-binding sites, distinct from CD11b-CD18 and responsible for the cell priming; (ii) CD11b-CD18 integrins, absolutely required for permitting the cell triggering; and (iii) TNF-alpha receptors, responsible for switching on a rapid cell response in primed cells. The requirement of multiple classes of receptors for the full expression of the cell function can be envisaged as a natural precautionary measure to control the neutrophil responsiveness to TNF-alpha and, in turn, the TNF-alpha-dependent neutrophil-mediated oxidative injury at sites of inflammation.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1993

Inactivation of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor by neutrophil metalloproteinases. Crucial role of the myeloperoxidase system and effects of the anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide.

Supernatants, obtained from normal neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), challenged with opsonized zymosan (OPZ), were found to inactivate the PMN elastase inhibitor, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI). As the supernatants were treated with methionine to quench residual oxidants, primarily chloramines, the observed inactivation of A1PI appears to be due to enzymes. The activity of the supernatants was in fact inhibited by metal-chelators and by the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), which is consistent with the intervention of metalloproteinases. Supernatants from normal PMN triggered by OPZ in the presence of inhibitors of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) system as well as supernatants from MPO-deficient PMN were inactive but displayed the capacity of inactivating A1PI after treatment with the metalloproteinases activator 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. These data suggest that the A1PI inactivation is due to metalloenzymes released by PMN as latent molecules, in turn activated by the MPO system. The MPO-dependent autoactivation of latent metalloenzymes by PMN, with consequent A1PI inactivation, was inhibited by the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide (NMS). As PMN-derived HOCl is well known to inactivate A1PI directly, through a process previously shown to be inhibitable by NMS, the present results suggest: (1) both the oxidative and proteolytic inactivation of A1PI depend on the HOCl-generating MPO system; (2) the tissue-destructive activity of PMN elastase could be controlled by interfering pharmacologically with the PMN-MPO system, directly and indirectly responsible for the breakdown of the tissue antielastase screen.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1993

Nimesulide as a downregulator of the activity of the neutrophil myeloperoxidase pathway. Focus on the histoprotective potential of the drug during inflammatory processes.

Neutrophils, recruited to tissue sites of inflammation, release a variety of oxidants and enzymes, which are responsible for tissue damage. Among the oxidants released are potent chlorinated compounds, such as hypochlorous acid and chloramines, which induce tissue cell damage and inactivate protease inhibitors, particularly alpha 1-antitrypsin, the specific inhibitor of neutrophil elastase. In studying a rational approach to the pharmacological control of neutrophil-mediated tissue injury, we investigated the activity of the anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide. This agent reduced the function of the myeloperoxidase pathway (which generates hypochlorous acid), by exerting a cell-directed inhibitory activity, as shown by measurement of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production. Nimesulide also inactivated hypochlorous acid directly and protected alpha 1-antitrypsin from the neutrophil-mediated oxidation. Thus, neutrophil elastolytic activity may be attenuated by nimesulide-spared alpha 1-antitrypsin. The prevention of oxidative inactivation of alpha 1-antitrypsin by nimesulide strictly correlates with the drug's ability to suppress the extracellular availability of hypochlorous acid. Taken together, these data suggest that nimesulide may prevent tissue injury at sites of inflammation by maintaining natural host protective systems.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1992

The anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide rescues alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor from oxidative inactivation by phagocytosing neutrophils.

When neutrophils are recruited to tissue sites and exposed to phagocytosable targets, they release oxidants which may be responsible for the local inactivation of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI). Consequently, A1PI becomes incapable of inhibiting the proteolytic activity of elastase, released at the same time by neutrophils as a result of leakage from phagocytic vacuoles. In the present paper we show that phagocytosing neutrophils inactivate A1PI via a process inhibitable by chemical agents known to interfere with the hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-generating myeloperoxidase pathway. The anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide (NMS), which is able to efficiently limit the extracellular availability of HOCl in the neutrophil surroundings, was found to prevent the inactivation of A1PI by neutrophils. The results provide evidence for a possible way to control neutrophil elastase activity by rescuing its natural inhibitor (A1PI) at inflamed tissue sites during infectious and noninfectious processes.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1992

The drug 5-aminosalicylic acid rescues alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor from the neutrophil oxidative inactivation. A possible contribution to its therapeutic action in ulcerative colitis.

The glycoprotein alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor is the specific inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, a major tissue-damaging protease. When incubated with activated neutrophils, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor lost its pancreatic porcine elastase inhibitory capacity and became incapable of forming a sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable complex with pancreatic porcine elastase. Inhibitors and scavengers of neutrophil-derived reactive oxygen species outlined the crucial role of hypochlorous acid in the alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor inactivation. Moreover, the drug 5-aminosalicylic acid prevented the inactivation of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, when the capacity of 5-aminosalicylic acid to rescue alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor from the neutrophil-derived attack was plotted as a function of the 5-aminosalicylic acid ability to scavenge neutrophil-derived hypochlorous acid, a positive linear relationship was found. Thus, our results provide a direct evidence that 5-aminosalicylic acid is able to prevent the oxidative inactivation of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by neutrophils. Therefore, we suggest that the drug has the potential to limit the elastase-mediated damage of colonic connective tissue by creating a microenvironment of active alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor around the neutrophils.

Aminosalicylic Acids↗