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F Vaglini

Publications and source records attributed to F Vaglini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cytochrome P450 and Parkinson's disease: protective role of neuronal CYP 2E1 from MPTP toxicity.

Elucidation of the biochemical steps leading to the 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced degeneration of the nigro-striatal dopamine (DA) pathway has provided new clues to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease (PD). In line with the enhancement of MPTP toxicity by diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), here we demonstrate how other CYP450 (2E1) inhibitors, such as diallyl sulfide (DAS) or phenylethylisothiocyanate (PIC), also potentiate the selective DA neuron degeneration in C57/bl mice. In order to provide direct evidence for this isozyme involvement, CYP 2E1 knockout mice were challenged with MPTP or the combined treatment. Here we show that these transgenic mice have a low sensitivity to MPTP alone, similarly to the wild type SVI, suggesting that it is likely that transgenic mice compensate for the missing enzyme. However, in these CYP 2E1 knockout mice, DDC pretreatment completely fails to enhance MPTP toxicity; this enhancement is instead regularly present in the SVI control animals. This study indicates that the occurrence of CYP 2E1 in C57/bl mouse brain is relevant for MPTP toxicity, and suggests that this isozyme may have a detoxificant role related to the efflux transporter of the toxin.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed2003

Quercetin inhibits the sulfation of r(-)-apomorphine in human brain.

The first aim of this investigation was to study the sulfation of R(-)-apomorphine in human brain. The second aim was to investigate the inhibition of R(-)-apomorphine sulfation by quercetin in human brain. R(-)-apomorphine is hereafter referred to as apomorphine. Apomorphine sulfation was measured in 5 brain specimens; 3 derived from the frontal cortex and 2 derived from the temporal cortex. The rate of apomorphine sulfation was 5.6 +/- 4.3 pmol/min/mg. The activities of SULT1A1 and SULT1A3, which were also measured in these samples, were 11 +/- 9.1 and 2.6 +/- 1.7 pmol/min/mg, respectively. The rate of apomorphine sulfation correlated with the activity of SULT1A1 (r = 0.989; p = 0.002) and SULT1A3 (r = 0.973; p = 0.005). Apomorphine sulfotransferase followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, the Km (mean +/- SD) and Vmax values (mean +/- SD) of which, measured in 5 brain samples, were 32 +/- 7.3 microM and 8.9 +/- 7.9 pmol/min/mg, respectively. Quercetin was a potent inhibitor of apomorphine sulfation with an IC50 value, measured in 5 brain samples, of 16 +/- 2.3 nM. The inhibition mechanism of quercetin using apomorphine sulfation in 5 brain samples was mixed, non-competitive with a Ki and Kies (mean +/- SD) of 16 +/- 4.1 and 87 +/- 37 nM, respectively (p = 0.008). The intrinsic clearance value of apomorphine (mean +/- SD) was 247 +/- 170 ml/min/mg(-1) and was decreased to 100 +/- 85 ml/min/mg(-1) (p < 0.01) in the presence of 25 nM quercetin. In conclusion, apomorphine is sulfated in human brain. Sulfation might reduce the level of apomorphine in human brain and be a factor limiting the effect of this drug. Quercetin is a potent inhibitor of apomorphine sulfation and may inhibit the sulfation of apomorphine in human brain in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Sulfation of R(-)-apomorphine in the human liver and duodenum, and its inhibition by mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin.

1. The aims were to study the sulfation of R-(-)-apomorphine (hereafter apomorphine) in the human liver and duodenum, and to study the rate of inhibition of apomorphine sulphation by mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin also in the human liver and duodenum. 2. A rapid and sensitive method was developed to measure the sulfation rate of apomorphine in the human liver and duodenum. The method was based on the use of 0.4 micro M 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate-[(35)S] (PAPS) and 50 micro M apomorphine. The unreacted PAPS was precipitated with barium hydroxide, barium acetate and zinc sulfate. 3. The rate of apomorphine sulfation (mean +/- SD and median) was 261 +/- 82 and 242 pmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively (liver), and 433 +/- 157 and 443 pmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively (duodenum). The apomorphine sulfation rate was higher in the duodenum than in the liver (p = 0.0005). 4. Apomorphine sulfation was correlated with SULT1A1 activity in the liver (r(2) = 0.363, p = 0.005) and duodenum (r(2) = 0.494, p = 0.0005), but it did not correlate with SULT1A3 activity both in the liver and duodenum. 5. The K(m) estimate of apomorphine sulfation rate was 20 +/- 3.6 (liver) and 6.5 +/- 0.2 microM (duodenum, p = 0.024), and the V(max) estimate was 248 +/- 99 (liver) and 636 +/- 104 pmol min(-1) mg(-1) (duodenum, p = 0.018). 6. Mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin were potent inhibitors of apomorphine sulfation rate in the liver, and the IC(50) estimates were 16 +/- 0.2 nM, 54 +/- 8.6 microM and 18 +/- 2.8 nM, respectively. These compounds were poor inhibitors of apomorphine sulfation in the duodenum. 7. Apomorphine is sulfated by the human liver and duodenum, the highest activity being associated with the duodenum. The K(m) of apomorphine sulfotransferase is in the order of micro M both in the liver and duodenum. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug mefenamic acid and the natural flavonoid quercetin inhibit the hepatic sulfation of apomorphine with an IC(50) in the order of nM.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Dopamine agonists and analogues have an antiproliferative effect on CHO-K1 cells.

Epidemiological studies have shown a reduced incidence of cancer in Parkinson's disease. Since nearly all parkinsonian patients with clinical impairment are treated with L-beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and dopamine (DA)ergic agonists, a possibility exists that these therapeutic agents can influence the risk of cancer. We studied the antiproliferative effect of these therapeutic agents (and substances structurally correlated) on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cell growth. Among the compounds tested, apomorphine proved to be the most potent inhibitor of CHO-K1 cell growth, with an EC(50) of 3.35 +/- 0.12 micro M. The apomorphine analogues, apocodeine and hydroxyethylnorapomorphine, were less active as inhibitors of CHO-K1 cell growth. The activity of DA, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), phenylethylamine (PEA), L-DOPA and bromocriptine as antiproliferative was one order of magnitude lower than that of apomorphine while pergolide was ineffective. To test whether or not the oxidative potential of these compounds was important for their antiproliferative effect, several antioxidants were assayed. Among them glutathione (GSH) and dithiothreitol (DTT) were effective in reversing the anti-proliferative effect of apomorphine, DA, 6-OHDA and PEA, conversely they did not work with bromocriptine. GSH and DTT are sulphydryl-reducing agents; while their effect could explain the efficacy against apomorphine, DA and 6-OHDA, it is difficult to understand why they should have any effect on PEA as this substance does not react with sulphydryl groups. The oxidative potential as a mechanism of action was also questioned by the results obtained with dihydrorhodamine 123, a probe that changes its fluorescent emission wave when oxidized. None of the compounds, with the exception of 6-OHDA, had any effect on the fluorescent emission wave of the probe at the maximal concentrations used to inhibit CHO-K1 cell growth. At concentrations five times higher, apomorphine and DA generated reactive oxygen species but PEA and bromocriptine did not. These data demonstrate that the antiproliferative effect of these compounds is not due to their oxidative potential, but another mechanism must be postulated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Apomorphine has a potent antiproliferative effect on Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Apomorphine is a potent non selective agonist at the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors acting both pre- and post-synaptically. In this report we describe a novel function of apomorphine, independent from its dopaminergic activity. Apomorphine inhibits Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The EC50 of apomorphine-induced inhibition of CHO-K1 cell proliferation determined by cell counting was 3.24 +/- 0.07 microM. Remarkably, the dose-response curve obtained by measuring the incorporation of [3H]thymidine was practically identical to the previous one giving an EC50 of 3.52 +/- 0.04 microM. The dopaminergic antagonists SCH23390 and spiperone at a concentration of 10 microM (well beyond their Kd values for the dopamine D1- and D2-like receptors respectively) were not able to antagonize the effect of apomorphine on CHO-K1 cell proliferation. Apomorphine exerts its effect early during incubation; CHO-K1 cells exposed to apomorphine for a period as short as 1 h and then allowed to grow for three days were significantly reduced in number with respect to untreated control cells. After four hours of exposition to apomorphine (10 microM) the antiproliferative effect was similar to that seen when this compound was present in the bath for all three days. Concentrations of apomorphine higher than 10 microM induced cell death, and the colony was completely destroyed at 50 microM. Cytometric analyses showed a significant accumulation of CHO-K1 cells in the G2/M phase.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Is lithium able to reverse neurological damage induced by vinca alkaloids? (Short communication).

Lithium (Li) actively antagonises the inhibiting action of vinca alkaloids on human leukocyte chemotaxis; it proved to be related to the activation of microtubular system, possibly mediated by its inhibiting effect on cyclic AMP. Vinca alkaloids induce peripheral neuropathy and muscle damage. The molecular basis of this neurotoxicity has not been fully explained, but a possible role of neurofibrillary degeneration has been reported. We studied both in animals and in humans, whether Li is able to antagonise vinca alkaloid neurotoxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Nicotine prevents experimental parkinsonism in rodents and induces striatal increase of neurotrophic factors.

The repeated finding of an apparent protective effect of cigarette smoking on the risk of Parkinson's disease is one of the few consistent results in the epidemiology of this disorder. Among the numerous substances that originate from tobacco smoke, nicotine is by far the most widely studied. Nicotine is a natural alkaloid that has considerable stimulatory effects on the CNS. Its effects on the CNS are mediated by the activation of neuronal heteromeric acetylcholine-gated ion channel receptors (nAChRs, also termed nicotinic acetylcholine receptors). In the present study, we describe the neuroprotective effects of (-)-nicotine in two animal models of parkinsonism: diethyldithiocarbamate-induced enhancement of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxicity in mice and methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in rats and mice. The neuroprotective effect of (-)-nicotine was very similar to that of the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist (+)-MK-801. In parallel experiments, we found that (-)-nicotine induces the basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rat striatum. The effect of (-)-nicotine on the induction of FGF-2 was prevented by the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine. We also found that (+)-MK-801 was able to induce FGF-2 in the striatum. As trophic factors have been reported to be neuroprotective for dopaminergic cells, our data suggest that the increase in neurotrophic factors is a possible mechanism by which (-)-nicotine protects from experimental parkinsonisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Striatal increase of neurotrophic factors as a mechanism of nicotine protection in experimental parkinsonism.

The repeated finding of an apparent protective effect of cigarette smoking on the risk of Parkinson's disease is one of the few consistent results in the epidemiology of this disorder. Among the innumerous substances that originate from tobacco smoke, nicotine is by far the most widely studied, and the most likely candidate for a protective effect against neuronal degeneration in Parkinson's disease. Nicotine is a natural alkaloid that has considerable stimulatory effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Its effects on the CNS are mediated by the activation of neuronal heteromeric acetylcholine-gated ion channel receptors (nAChR, also termed nicotinic acetylcholine receptors). In the present study, we describe the neuroprotective effects of (-)nicotine in two animal models of parkinsonism: the diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC)-induced enhancement of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity in mice, and the methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in rats and mice. In parallel experiments, we found that (-)nicotine induces the basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rat striatum. As FGF-2 and BDNF have been reported to be neuroprotective for dopaminergic cells, our data indicate that the increase in neurotrophic factors is a possible mechanism by which (-)nicotine protects from experimental parkinsonisms. Moreover, they suggest that nAChR agonists could be of potential benefit in the progression of Parkinson's disease.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1997

Species differences in the role of excitatory amino acids in experimental parkinsonism.

The present review discusses species differences in relation to the effects produced by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP); in particular, it focuses on recent evidence regarding the role of excitatory amino acids in experimental parkinsonism. The main aim of the review is to provide a phylogenetic perspective which may serve as a useful tool to study Parkinson's disease in rodents. Excitotoxicity might represent the final common pathway on which the actions of different neurotoxins, selectively directed towards nigrostriatal dompaminergic neurons, converge. This is clearly demonstrated in methamphetamine- and 6-dihydroxy-dopamine-induced parkinsonism. The role of excitotoxicity in the mechanism of action of MPTP is less clear. Although there are several species differences for MPTP it is possible to obtain in mice the same effects induced in MPTP-treated primates by combining acetaldehyde or diethyldithiocarbamate with MPTP administration. When mice are administered these combined treatments, the onset of experimental parkinsonism can be prevented using the same pharmacological agents (i.e. glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists) that are effective in primates.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

L-deprenyl fails to protect mesencephalic dopamine neurons and PC12 cells from the neurotoxic effect of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion.

L-Deprenyl, a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor, appears to slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease. While inhibition of MAO-B activity can account for some of the effects of this substance, the basis by which L-deprenyl slows the progression of the disease remains controversial. In recent years, a new mechanism of action has emerged that may explain the ability of L-deprenyl to increase neuronal survival. L-deprenyl has been reported to modify gene expression and protein synthesis in astrocytes and PC12 cells. In this study, we tested the ability of L-deprenyl to protect mouse mesencephalic cells from the toxicity of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium ion (MPP+). We exposed mouse mesencephalic cell cultures to L-deprenyl (10 microM) and, 24 h later, to MPP+ (2.5 microM). On the fifth day after L-deprenyl and MPP+ exposition, cells were washed free of drugs, and the following day they were tested for dopamine uptake, intracellular dopamine content and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. The experiments were performed either in the presence or in the absence of glia. It was found that L-deprenyl pretreatment failed to achieve any protection against MPP+ toxicity. The fall in dopamine uptake and intracellular dopamine content, and the diminution of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity observed in cells pretreated with L-deprenyl and then given MPP+ were not significantly different from the values observed in cells treated with MPP+ alone. Additional experiments performed in PC12 cells, confirmed the failure of L-deprenyl to abolish the toxicity of MPP+. Our data seem to be at variance with previous reports demonstrating that the MAO-B inhibitor L-deprenyl protects dopaminergic neurons against MPP+ toxicity [12,20]; furthermore they do not support alternative mechanisms of action of L-deprenyl against MPP+ toxicity.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗
PubMed1996

Striatal MPP+ levels do not necessarily correlate with striatal dopamine levels after MPTP treatment in mice.

The present study offers confirmation of the fact that an MAO-B inhibitor, (-) deprenyl and a DA uptake blocker, GBR-12909, prevent MPTP-induced striatal DA decrease. This protective effect is accompanied by an almost complete prevention of MPP+ production induced by (-) deprenyl and an accelerated MPP+ clearance induced by GBR-12909 within the striatum. Similarly, the MPTP toxicity enhancers, DDC and acetaldehyde, both increase striatal MPP+ levels, as previously reported. On the contrary, the treatment with MK 801, although uneffective in preventing the long-term MPTP-induced striatal DA decrease, causes an increase in the striatal amount of MPP+. In a similar way, the administration of nicotine in combination with MPTP produces a significant increase in the levels of striatal MPP+, which does not elicit any effect on striatal DA. The effect of clonidine is consistent with these results and in sharp contrast with the current belief that a direct relationship exists between striatal MPP+ concentrations and the degree of MPTP-induced depletion of striatal DA. In this study, using different treatments, we failed to confirm the correlation between MPP+ striatal levels and dopaminergic lesions after MPTP administration in mice. We suggest that this correlation is not a rule and exceptions may depend on a different compartimentalization of the toxic metabolite.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1995

Stereoselective inhibition of muscarinic receptor subtypes by the eight stereoisomers related to rociverine.

The chemical structure corresponding to 1-hydroxy[1,1'-bicyclohexyl]-2-carboxylic acid 2-(diethylamino)-1-methylethyl ester has the classical profile of ester-type antimuscarinic drugs. The presence of three chiral carbons leads to eight stereoisomers and the substitutions on the cyclohexyl ring generate cis-isomers (1, named rociverine) and trans-isomers (2). The aim of this study was to determine the binding pattern of the eight stereoisomers and two derived compounds, (1S,2S)-1-hydroxy[1,1'-bicyclohexyl]-2-carboxylic acid 2-(dimethylamino)-1-ethyl ester (3) (1S,2S)-1-hydroxy[1,1'-bicyclohexyl]-2-carboxylic acid (S)-2-(diethylamino)-1-methylethyl ester methyl iodide (4), at the five cloned muscarinic receptors stably expressed in chinese hamster ovary cells, in order to define how stereochemical modifications could affect the affinity. Our data showed that cis-stereoisomers exhibited higher variations in affinity than trans-stereoisomers. Among the cis-stereoisomers, those with the (1R,2R) configuration showed considerably higher affinities (up to 240-fold) than those with the (1S,2S) configuration. The (1S,2S) configuration was important for binding selectivity; this was confirmed also by the use of the two additional compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Role of excitatory amino-acids in diethyldithiocarbamate-induced cell death in mesencephalic cultures.

The effects of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and DDC plus glutamate on mesencephalic cell cultures were investigated. DDC 10 microM was toxic for cell cultures as assessed by observation under a phase-contrast microscope and the drop in [3H]dopamine uptake. Moreover, DDC 1 microM greatly potentiated cell death induced by glutamate 10 and 50 microM. (+)MK801, a selective non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors, completely prevented the toxicity of the two neurotoxins.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Clonidine suppresses 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced reductions of striatal dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in mice.

Recent findings have shown that excitatory amino acid may be involved in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. At the same time, evidence is accumulating that the endogenous noradrenergic system plays a protective role in MPTP-induced striatal dopamine (DA) depletion and nigral dopaminergic cell death. Recently, alpha 2-adrenoceptors located on glutamatergic axons have been shown to inhibit glutamate overflow. In this study, we evaluated the effects of an alpha 2-agonist (clonidine) and an alpha 2-antagonist (yohimbine) on MPTP-induced striatal DA depletion and tyrosine hydroxylase activity reduction. We show that clonidine is able to prevent the neurotoxicity of MPTP in mice. To exert this effect, clonidine (0.5 mg/kg) must be administered at least twice (30 min before and 30 min after MPTP). Administration of another alpha 2-agonist (detomidine, 0.3 mg/kg) attenuated the neurotoxicity induced by MPTP. We provide evidence that the protective effect obtained with clonidine was not due to decreased striatal content of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). We also show that yohimbine, which is a classic alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist with low affinity for imidazoline receptors, produced by itself an enhancement of MPTP toxicity and was able to block the protective effect of clonidine. These data raise the possibility that alpha 2-adrenoceptor may modulate the susceptibility of the nitrostriatal dopaminergic pathway to neurotoxicity.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1994

(+)MK-801 prevents the DDC-induced enhancement of MPTP toxicity in mice.

In order to reach deeper insight into the mechanism of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC)-induced enhancement of MPTP toxicity in mice, MK-801, a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors, has been used as a tool to study the role of excitatory amino acids. In agreement with previous reports, (+)MK-801 did not significantly affect either striatal dopamine (DA) or tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) activity in MPTP-treated animals. On the contrary (+)MK-801, but not (-)MK-801 significantly reduced the DDC + MPTP-induced fall in striatal DA and TH activity. A similar preventing effect on DA metabolites (DOPAC and HVA) and HVA/DA ratio was observed. The number of TH+ neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) of (+)MK-801-pretreated mice was not significantly different from that of control animals, indicating that this treatment specifically antagonized the extensive DDC-induced lesion of dopaminergic cell bodies in this brain area. (+)MK-801 treatment did not affect the DDC-induced changes of striatal MPP+ levels, suggesting that the observed antagonism of MK-801 against DDC is not due to MPP+ kinetic modifications. Pretreatment with the MAO-B inhibitor, L-deprenyl, or with the DA uptake blocker, GBR 12909, completely prevented the marked DA depletion elicited by DDC + MPTP within the striatum. Both treatments also protected from the fall in DA metabolites and TH activity as well. This indicates that DDC-induced potentiation is dependent upon MPP+ production and its uptake by the dopaminergic nerve terminals. All these findings suggest that NMDA receptors play a crucial role in the DDC-induced enhancement of MPTP toxicity.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗
PubMed1993

beta,beta'-Iminodipropionitrile-induced persistent dyskinetic syndrome in mice is transiently modified by MPTP.

Chronic administration of iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) is known to produce a persistent dyskinetic syndrome. Recent neurochemical reports seem to point out the dopaminergic system as having an important role in mediating IDPN syndrome. In order to identify a possible role for the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway in determining at least some aspects of the IDPN-induced dyskinetic syndrome, we used the neurotoxin, 1-methyl, 4-phenyl,1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), as a tool for investigating which aspects of the IDPN-related syndrome could be due to enhanced dopaminergic activity in the neostriatum. In mice made permanently dyskinetic with IDPN, MPTP administration produced dramatic and biphasic effects on all behavioral patterns characteristic of the dyskinetic syndrome. Six weeks after the syndrome occurred, IDPN failed to produce any change in striatal DA levels with respect to controls. By contrast, IDPN seems to reduce striatal levels of extraneuronal metabolites of DA. These data suggest that the activity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway does not play a leading role in the maintenance of IDPN-related syndrome. The transient modification of all behavioral parameters immediately after MPTP administration could be explained by acute effects of MPTP on other dopaminergic areas which are not permanently lesioned by this neurotoxin, or by the acute effects of MPTP on the release of other neurotransmitters.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗