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Biomedical subjects

J A Oates

Publications and source records attributed to J A Oates.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Identification of skin as a major site of prostaglandin D2 release following oral administration of niacin in humans.

Oral administration of niacin (nicotinic acid) at pharmacologic doses that reduce serum cholesterol levels induces intense flushing in humans. We have recently shown that the vasodilation following ingestion of niacin is due to the release of prostaglandin (PG) D2. However, the site from which PGD2 is released is not known. It has previously been shown that topical application of methylnicotinate causes local cutaneous erythema. Thus, we investigated whether topical methylnicotinate causes a release of PGD2 locally from skin and the possibility that skin may be a major contributor to the release of PGD2 when niacin is administered by mouth. Topical administration of methylnicotinate (10(-1) M) to the forearms of human volunteers resulted in 58- to 122-times increases in levels of PGD2 and 25- to 33-times increases in levels of the metabolite of PGD2, 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2, in blood drawn from the antecubital vein draining the treated sites. Increased levels of PGD2 and 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 were not found in blood drawn simultaneously from veins in the contralateral arm, indicating that the PGD2 was released from the site of methylnicotinate application. The release of PGD2 in response to topically applied methylnicotinate occurred in a dose-dependent manner over the concentration range of 10(-3) to 10(-1) M. The release of PGD2 was not accompanied by a release of histamine, suggesting that the release of PGD2 was not from the mast cell. Following oral ingestion of niacin, levels of PGD2 in superficial venous blood draining the skin were 14 to 1200 times higher than the level in arterial blood supplying the skin of the same arm. This finding indicates that the skin is a major site from which PGD2 is released following oral ingestion of niacin. These studies thus indicate that the cutaneous vasodilation that occurs following oral administration of niacin is primarily due to a release of PGD2 from a niacin responsive cell that resides in the skin.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Administration of carbamazepine in the nucleus of the solitary tract inhibits the antihypertensive effect of clonidine.

The effects of carbamazepine administration into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) on central alpha 2-adrenergic cardiovascular function were studied in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Stereotaxic microinjections of carbamazepine (288 ng/60 nl) into the NTS of SHR transiently increased blood pressure, heart rate, and renal sympathetic nerve activity. These effects were followed by a modest depressor and bradycardic effect, with no change in sympathetic nerve activity. In addition, previous intra-NTS administration of carbamazepine attenuated the antihypertensive effect of the centrally acting alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine. Similar carbamazepine effects were observed in the WKY rats. These results suggest that some of the cardiovascular changes observed during carbamazepine treatment involve antagonism of central noradrenergic mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Substitution of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in the phosphoinositide signaling pathway.

Consideration of how 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) might exert its biological actions led us to investigate the consequences of its incorporation into bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cell (BPAEC) phospholipids [3H]15(S)-HETE was incorporated mainly (89%) into phosphatidylinositols, predominantly as 1-stearoyl-2-(15-HETE) phosphatidylinositol. By contrast 5(S)- and 12(S)-HETE are incorporated largely into phosphatidylcholine. 15-HETE had a long persistence in the phosphatidylinositols of BPAEC with a half-life of 12 h; its uptake was concentration-dependent, and it accumulated so that 2-(15-HETE) phosphatidylinositol accounted for 10.9% of total phosphatidylinositol after four sequential 1-h incubations of cells with 1 microM 15(S)-HETE. After incubating BPAEC with 15(S)-HETE, stimulation of the cells with bradykinin led to an increase in the levels of 15-HETE. Following addition of bradykinin to cells exposed to [3H]15(S)-HETE, a radiolabeled diacylglycerol was isolated. A mass spectrum of its pentafluorobenzoyl (PFBO) trimethylsilyl (Me3Si) derivative obtained with direct electron capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (DNICI/MS) revealed a molecular anion and fragment ions that were identical with those observed with the PFBO/Me3Si derivative of authentic 1-stearoyl-2-(15-HETE) diacylglycerol. There was a lesser quantity of 1-oleoyl-2-(15-HETE) diacylglycerol. An increase in the quantity of 1-stearoyl-2-(15-HETE) diacylglycerol from 6 +/- 1.4 pmol/10(7) cells in the basal state to 12.7 +/- 3.5 after bradykinin was measured by DNICI/MS utilizing a deuterium-labeled analog as an internal standard. Thus, incorporation of 15(S)-HETE into the phosphatidylinositol of these cells led to the release of altered second messengers.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Quantification of the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin D2 by a stable isotope dilution mass spectrometric assay.

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) has been found to be an important pathophysiological mediator in a number of human disorders. Thus a means to assess the endogenous production of PGD2 is of considerable clinical value. To accomplish this goal, we developed a method for the quantification of the major urinary metabolite of PGD2, 9 alpha, 11 beta-dihydroxy-15-oxo-2,3,18,19-tetranorprost-5-ene-1,20-dioic acid, by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. This metabolite was chemically synthesized and converted to an 18O4-labeled derivative for use as an internal standard. Novel derivatization and purification procedures were incorporated in the assay taking advantage of the ability of the lower side chain of this molecule to undergo cyclization at acidic pH to form a hemiketal, gamma-lactone, and uncyclization with methoximation. Precision of the assay is +/- 7% and accuracy is 96%. The lower limit of sensitivity is approximately 50 pg. Normal levels for the urinary excretion of this metabolite in 18 normal adults was found to be 1.08 +/- 0.72 ng/mg creatinine (mean +/- 2SD). Substantial elevations in the urinary excretion of the metabolite were found in clinical situations in which prostaglandin D2 has been shown to be released in increased quantities. Thus, this assay provides a sensitive and accurate method to assess endogenous production of prostaglandin D2 as a means to explore the pathophysiological role of prostaglandin D2 in human disease.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed1991

A stable isotope dilution mass spectrometric assay for the major urinary metabolite of PGD2.

1. A sensitive and specific negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric assay for the major urinary metabolite of PGD2 has been developed employing a chemically synthesized [18(0)4]-labelled internal standard. 2. The finding that increased urinary excretion of this metabolite occurs in a number of clinical situations suggests that the assay may prove to be a valuable tool to explore the role of PGD2 in the pathophysiology of human disease.

Asthma↗
PubMed1991

Biochemical diagnosis of systemic mast cell disorders.

Systemic mastocytosis is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of tissue mast cells. Symptoms of mastocytosis are primarily attributed to the release of mast cell mediators during episodes of systemic activation of the excessive numbers of mast cells. Thus, biochemical evidence for the release of increased quantities of mast cell secretory products can suggest or confirm, depending on the clinical situation, a diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis. A major advantage of the biochemical approach to the diagnosis of systemic mast cell disease is that it has allowed the recognition of a class of patients in whom episodes of systemic mastocytes activation can be unequivocally documented biochemically but in whom clear-cut evidence of abnormal mast cell proliferation is lacking by current histologic criteria. Although the release of increased quantities of mast cell mediators can be demonstrated during episodes of mast cell activation in such patients, mediator levels are usually normal at quiescent times. By contrast, patients with proliferative mast cell disease (mastocytosis) usually exhibit chronic overproduction of mast cell mediators. Mast cell secretory products that can be measured in an attempt to obtain biochemical evidence of systemic mast cell activation include histamine, prostaglandin D2, tryptase, and heparin. The analytical approaches to assessing release of those individual mast cell products are evaluated. In general, the diagnosis and investigation of patients with systemic mast cell activation can best be accomplished by concerted use of histologic examination of key tissues together with analysis of chemical markers of the mast cell.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Platelet-vessel wall interactions in individuals who smoke cigarettes.

Our studies have shown that there an increased excretion of urinary metabolites of thromboxane A2 in healthy, young male chronic smokers. This arachidonic acid metabolite from platelets reflects evidence of increased activation in vivo. These data contrast with the ex vivo study of platelets in chronic smokers and point out the fact that selection of cells for ex vivo study may not appropriately reflect the in vivo pathophysiologic situation. The platelet activation related to chronic smoking appears to result from both a direct, non-sympathoadrenally mediated activation which is rapidly inducible and reversible as well as a more persistent activation which long outlasts the smoke exposure. This latter mechanism appears to result from persistent vascular damage as reflected by the enhanced prostacyclin metabolite excretion. The acute, direct effect of smoking on the platelet appears to be a minor component of the altered platelet function. This latter inference may account for the inability in some studies to observe a small incremental, acute change superimposed on the persistently increased platelet reactivity secondary to the enhanced interactions with a damaged vasculature.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of eicosanoid biosynthesis by glucocorticoids in humans.

Therapeutic doses of glucocorticoids are thought to inhibit prostaglandin and leukotriene formation in humans. Several studies in animals, however, have failed to demonstrate modulation of eicosanoid biosynthesis by steroids in vivo. We administered prednisone (60 mg/day) to eight healthy volunteers and measured eicosanoid formation by a variety of cell types in vivo and ex vivo, using sensitive and specific physicochemical assays. We found that the in vivo course of prednisone failed to inhibit the synthesis of thromboxane A2, prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin), prostaglandin E2, and leukotriene E4 in vivo and of leukotriene B4 ex vivo. Biosynthesis of leukotriene B4, thromboxane B2, and prostaglandins F2 and E2 by macrophage-rich bronchoalveolar lavage cells was strongly suppressed. These findings indicate that therapeutic regimens of glucocorticoids suppress eicosanoid biosynthesis in human macrophages but not in a number of other cell types with steroid receptors, the capacity for eicosanoid formation, and lipocortin-like material.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Mechanistic studies of the dioxygenase and leukotriene synthase activities of the porcine leukocyte 12S-lipoxygenase.

Lipoxygenases react with hydroperoxy fatty acids and catalyze dioxygenase or dehydrase (leukotriene A4 (LTA4) synthase) types of reactions. In the present investigation we studied the mechanism of reaction of the purified porcine leukocyte 12S-lipoxygenase with 15S-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15S-HPETE). Oxygen-18 labeling experiments with GC-MS analysis were used to distinguish dioxygenase and leukotriene synthase activities of the enzyme; 8S,15S-DiHPETE and 14R,15S-DiHPETE were formed by oxygenation, and a series of 8,15- and 14,15-diols were formed via enzymatic synthesis of 14,15-LTA4 and nonenzymatic hydrolysis of the epoxide. 10D-3H- and 10L-3H-labeled substrates were used to study the stereospecificity of the C-10 hydrogen abstraction in the synthesis of these products. Formation of 14,15-DiHPETE and 14,15-LTA4 was associated with stereoselective abstraction of hydrogen from the 10L position of 15S-HPETE. The same type of measurements on the 8S,15S-DiHPETE product indicated a variable (50-250%) retention of the 10L-3H label, and a consistent 90% retention of the 10D-3H. In contrast, the synthesis of 8S,15S-DiHPETE by the soybean lipoxygenase was associated with the expected stereoselective abstraction of the 10D hydrogen. It appears that the porcine leukocyte 12S-lipoxygenase synthesizes 8S,15S-DiHPETE by a different mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Allergen-stimulated release of mediators into sheep bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Effect of cyclooxygenase inhibition.

Products of arachidonic acid have been implicated as potential mediators of allergic airway responses in sheep and in humans. We therefore measured the release of arachidonate metabolites into sheep bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after local instillation of Ascaris antigen, using a highly specific and sensitive approach, gas chromatography-negative ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Allergen instillation caused increases in the levels of the potent bronchoconstrictors prostaglandin (PG) D2 and thromboxane (TX) A2 (as reflected by levels of TXB2) and of their enzymatic metabolites, 9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2 and 11-dehydro-TXB2, respectively. Potential bronchodilators, PGI2 and PGE2, were also formed in increased amounts. Levels of the 5-lipoxygenase products, leukotriene (LT) B4 and C4, were not significantly increased. Pretreatment of sheep with cyclooxygenase inhibitors was associated with a decrease in the release of cyclooxygenase products and a concomitant increase in the allergen-stimulated release of LTB4 and LTC4. Eicosanoids are formed promptly in vivo in sheep after allergen instillation: inhibition of cyclooxygenase results in augmented generation of leukotrienes in the airways of sensitive sheep in response to antigen challenge.

Allergens↗