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Biomedical subjects

P Cadet

Publications and source records attributed to P Cadet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Morphine 6 glucuronide stimulates nitric oxide release in mussel neural tissues: evidence for a morphine 6 glucuronide opiate receptor subtype.

We have previously demonstrated that Mytilus edulis pedal ganglia contain opiate alkaloids, i.e., morphine and morphine 6 glucuronide (M6G), as well as mu opiate receptor subtype fragments exhibiting high sequence similarity to those found in mammals. Now we demonstrate that M6G stimulates pedal ganglia constitutive nitric oxide (NO) synthase (cNOS)-derived NO release at identical concentrations and to similar peak levels as morphine. However, the classic opiate antagonist, naloxone, only blocked the ability of morphine to stimulate cNOS-derived NO release and not that of M6G. CTOP, a mu-specific antagonist, blocked the ability of M6G to induce cNOS-derived NO release as well as that of morphine, suggesting that a novel mu opiate receptor was present and selective toward M6G. In examining a receptor displacement analysis, both opiate alkaloids displaced [3H]-dihydromorphine binding to the mu opiate receptor subtype. However, morphine exhibited a twofold higher affinity, again suggesting that a novel mu opiate receptor may be present.

Animals↗

Morphine inhibits indolactam V-induced U937 cell adhesion and gelatinase secretion.

We demonstrate that indolactam V, a non-phorbol protein kinase C activator, promotes U937 cell attachment to fibronectin, type IV collagen and laminin. In the absence of indolactam V, 2-4% of U937 cells attach to all test substrates, however, in the presence of 100 nM indolactam V, 25, 16 and 11% of U937 cells attach to fibronectin, type IV collagen and laminin, respectively. When added concomitantly, 90 microM H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, reduces indolactam V-induced U937 cell adhesion to fibronectin by 91%. Monoclonal antibodies directed against both the beta1 and alpha 5 integrin subunits inhibit indolactam V-induced U937 cell adhesion to fibronectin by 62 and 52%, respectively. Indolactam V also promotes homotypic aggregation in U937 cells, which is blocked with either anti-ICAM or anti-LFA-1 antibodies. In addition, indolactam V promotes U937 cell secretion of a 92 kDa gelatinase as demonstrated by zymography. In the presence of low levels of morphine (10 nM-1.0 microM), the U937 cell attachment to matrix proteins was not significantly affected. However, in the presence of 10 microM morphine, the indolactam V treated cells exhibit a 71-74% reduction in cell adhesion to the matrix proteins. Further, 10 microM morphine also blocks indolactam V-induced homotypic aggregation and gelatinase secretion. The inhibitory effect of morphine on cell-matrix adhesion and gelatinase secretion was not inhibited by the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone (1 microM). While 10 microM naloxone did partially counteract the effect of 10 microM morphine on U937 cell attachment, this effect was likely non-specific since 10 microM naloxone alone increased cell adhesion. Supporting this conclusion, PCR analysis revealed that U937 cells do not express the mu high affinity morphine receptor. Also, indolactam V did not induce mu receptor expression, suggesting that morphine acts on U937 cells in a non-specific fashion.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Vascular pulsations stimulating nitric oxide release during cyclic exercise may benefit health: a molecular approach (review).

It is widely assumed that all exercise, regardless of the degree of difficulty or strenuousness, is good (no pain-no gain). In this speculative review of the literature and our research findings we highlight the fact that strenuous exercise taken to the extreme initiates an immune and vascular proinflammatory situation. However, mild cyclic exercise appears to produce health benefits for an individual. In part, this is due to vascular cyclic pulsations, occurring in mild exercise, stimulating constitutive nitric oxide synthase derived nitric oxide release. This in turn down-regulates vascular endothelial cells and immunocytes, as well as their interaction and inhibits the disassociation of NF-kappaB, preventing the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The nitric oxide so generated may even scavenge excess free radicals, preventing tissue damage. Prolonged strenuous exercise appears to limit these positive phenomena because of the maintained and prolonged high blood pressure that reduces the cyclic pulsations, limiting nitric oxide production. We further note that pathological conditions, i.e., Parkinson's disorder, may benefit from mild exercise, i.e., cyclic nitric oxide production, since the inactivity associated with this disease may lead to compromised nitric oxide production, initiating a progressive deterioration of tissues, including peripheral adrenergic neurons, due to a lack of adequate basal nitric oxide levels required to maintain the vascular microenvironment in a mild state of inhibition. We conclude that mild exercise represents an alternate and economical therapy to preserve health and/or diminish the rate of decline of the normal physiological processes that may even be associated with aging.

Exercise↗

HIV gp120 and morphine alter mu opiate receptor expression in human vascular endothelium.

We find that chronic exposure of human saphenous vein, atria and internal thoracic artery endothelium to the human immunodeficiency virus surface glycoprotein gp120, results in an increase in endothelial mu opioid receptor expression (52%). gp120 acts, in this regard, as a proinflammatory cytokine (e.g. interleukin-1-alpha) by increasing endothelial mu opioid receptor expression. In contrast, morphine decreases mu opioid receptor expression by 90% in a dose dependent fashion. Pretreatment of these tissues with the respective antagonists e.g., naloxone and anti-gp120 blocks the opiate decrease and increase gp120 induced increase in mu expression, respectively. Further, pretreatment of these endothelia with morphine inhibits gp120-stimulated mu transcript expression. Therefore, the immune down-regulating action of morphine may prevent viral replication because this process requires immune activation that can, in part, be provided for by gp120 proinflammatory actions.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Morphine reduces herpes simplex virus-1 pathogenesis in the murine flank.

Here we investigate the effect of morphine on herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) pathogenesis using a murine flank scarification model. Murine flank scarification with HSV-1 results in primary lesions at the site of inoculation within three days and lesions at secondary sites within four days. The lesions are scored based on lesion size. Applying 0.1 mM morphine to the skin one-day post inoculation tested the effect of morphine on the formation of the herpes lesion. On days three through five, mice treated with morphine developed lesions with scores half of that observed in untreated animals, however, skin viral titers on these days were equivalent. Further, 1.0 microM morphine did not effect the replication rate of HSV-1 in Vero cells. Taken together, these data suggest the morphine reduced HSV-1 pathogenesis by modifying the host response to HSV-1 infection and not by reducing viral replication rates.

Animals↗

Identification of morphine in the adrenal medullary chromaffin PC-12 cell line.

Morphine was identified in the adrenal medulla chromaffin PC-12 cell line by reversed-phase HPLC, following liquid and solid extraction. The morphine corresponding HPLC fractions (1.746+/-0.615 ng of morphine/million cells) were further analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and found to be identical to synthetic morphine. Furthermore, using primers derived from the human neuronal mu 1 opiate receptor, we used RT-PCR to detect expression of mu transcripts from this cell line. The transcript was absent. The study conclusively proves morphine, but not a mu opiate receptor, is constitutively expressed in the adrenal medulla chromaffin PC-12 cell line.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Ascaris suum, an intestinal parasite, produces morphine.

The parasitic worm Ascaris suum contains the opiate alkaloid morphine as determined by HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The level of this material is 1168 +/- 278 ng/g worm wet weight. Furthermore, Ascaris maintained for 5 days contained a significant amount of morphine, as did their medium, demonstrating their ability to synthesize the opiate alkaloid. To determine whether the morphine was active, we exposed human monocytes to the material, and they immediately released nitric oxide in a naloxone-reversible manner. The anatomic distribution of morphine immunoreactivity reveals that the material is in the subcuticle layers and in the animals' nerve chords. Furthermore, as determined by RT-PCR, Ascaris does not express the transcript of the neuronal mu receptor. Failure to demonstrate the expression of this opioid receptor, as well as the morphine-like tissue localization in Ascaris, suggests that the endogenous morphine is intended for secretion into the microenvironment.

Animals↗

Estradiol-stimulated nitric oxide release in human granulocytes is dependent on intracellular calcium transients: evidence of a cell surface estrogen receptor.

We tested the hypothesis that estrogen acutely stimulates constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity in human granulocytes by acting on a cell surface estrogen receptor (ER). The release of nitric oxide was measured in real time with an amperometric probe. Exposure of granulocytes to 17beta-estradiol stimulated NO release within seconds in a concentration-dependent manner. The NO release was also stimulated by 17beta-estradiol conjugated to bovine serum albumin (E(2)-BSA), which suggests mediation by a cell surface receptor. Tamoxifen, an ER inhibitor, antagonized the action of both 17beta-estradiol and E(2)-BSA, whereas ICI 182,780, an inhibitor of the nuclear ER, had no effect. Using dual emission microfluorometry in a calcium-free medium, the 17beta-estradiol-stimulated release of NO from granulocytes was shown to be dependent on intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) transients in a tamoxifen-sensitive process. Exposure to BAPTA-AM (1,2bis-(-aminophenoxy)ethans-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxyymethyl) ester), a [Ca(2+)]i chelator, reduced [Ca(2+)]i in response to E(2)-BSA, and depleting [Ca(2+)]i stores abolished the effect of 17beta-estradiol on NO release. Confocal photomicrographs using E(2)-BSA-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) revealed cell membrane reactivity. Estrogen-stimulated NO release had an immunosuppressive effect, and it initiated granulocyte rounding and loss of adherence in a tamoxifen-sensitive manner. Finally, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, human neutrophil granulocytes expressed ERalpha but not ERbeta, suggesting that ERalpha may be the membrane receptor for 17beta-estradiol. The study demonstrated that a physiological dose of estrogen down-regulates granulocyte activity by acutely stimulating NO release via the activation of a cell surface ER which is coupled to increases in [Ca(2+)]i. (Blood. 2000;95:3951-3958)

Animals↗

Cell-surface estrogen receptors mediate calcium-dependent nitric oxide release in human endothelia.

BACKGROUND: Although estrogen replacement therapy has been associated with reduction of cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women, the mechanism for this benefit remains unclear. Because nitric oxide (NO) is considered an important endothelium-derived relaxing factor and may function to protect blood vessels against atherosclerotic development, we investigated the acute effects of physiological levels of estrogen on NO release from human internal thoracic artery endothelia and human arterial endothelia in culture. METHODS AND RESULTS: We tested the hypothesis that estrogen acutely stimulates constitutive NO synthase activity in human endothelial cells by acting on a cell-surface receptor. NO release was measured in real time with an amperometric probe. 17beta-Estradiol exposure to internal thoracic artery endothelia and human arterial endothelia in culture stimulated NO release within seconds in a concentration-dependent manner. 17beta-Estradiol conjugated to bovine serum albumin also stimulated NO release, suggesting action through a cell-surface receptor. Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor inhibitor, antagonized this action. We further showed with the use of dual emission microfluorometry that 17beta-estradiol-stimulated release of endothelial NO was dependent on the initial stimulation of intracellular calcium transients. CONCLUSIONS: Physiological doses of estrogen immediately stimulate NO release from human endothelial cells through activation of a cell-surface estrogen receptor that is coupled to increases in intracellular calcium.

Adult↗

Endogenous morphine.

It is now well accepted that endogenous morphine is present in animals, both in invertebrates and vertebrates. It is a key signaling molecule that plays an important role in downregulating physiological responses, such as those in the immune system, including immune elements in the CNS. It has been demonstrated that a specific mu-opiate-receptor subtype, mu3, mediates these downregulatory effects through release of NO. This article examines morphine as an endogenous signaling molecule, in terms of its role in neural and immune regulation.

Animals↗

Basal nitric oxide limits immune, nervous and cardiovascular excitation: human endothelia express a mu opiate receptor.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a major signaling molecule in the immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems. The synthesizing enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) occurs in three forms: endothelial (e), neuronal (n) and inducible (i) NOS. The first two are constitutively expressed. We surmise that in many tissues there is a basal level of NO and that the actions of several signaling molecules initiate increases in cNOS-derived NO to enhance momentary basal levels that exerts inhibitory cellular actions, via cellular conformational changes. It is our contention that much of the literature concerning the actions of NO really deal with i-NOS-derived NO. We make the case that cNOS is responsible for a basal or 'tonal' level of NO; that this NO keeps particular types of cells in a state of inhibition and that activation of these cells occurs through disinhibition. Furthermore, naturally occurring signaling molecules such as morphine, anandamide, interleukin-10 and 17-beta-estradiol appear to exert, in part, their beneficial physiological actions, i.e., immune and endothelial down regulation by the stimulation of cNOS. In regard to opiates, we demonstrate the presence of a human endothelial mu opiate receptor by RT-PCR and sequence determination, further substantiating the role of opiates in vascular coupling to NO release. Taken together, cNOS derived NO enhances basal NO actions, i.e., cellular activation state, and these actions are further enhanced by iNOS derived NO.

Animals↗

Morphine inhibits NF-kappaB nuclear binding in human neutrophils and monocytes by a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor NF-kappaB plays a pivotal role in gene expression of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines or adhesion molecules. NF-kappaB-mediated transcriptional activation of these genes is inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) in a variety of cells, including monocytes. Morphine mediates NO release in a naloxone antagonizable manner in monocytes and neutrophils. METHODS: The influence of morphine on NF-kappaB activation was investigated in a whole-blood flow cytometric assay. A specific antibody against the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB was used and detected by fluoresceine-isothiocyanate-labeled anti-immunoglobulin G. Nuclei were stained with propidium iodide. Leukocyte subpopulations were evaluated by gating on neutrophils and monocytes. The median fluorescence channel was determined. Different morphine concentrations (50 nm, 50 microm, 1 mm) and incubation intervals (10-150 min) were used. RESULTS: Morphine inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-kappaB nuclear binding in human blood neutrophils and monocytes in a time-, concentration-, and naloxone-sensitive-dependent manner. Similar effects were achieved with the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-pencillamine and the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine. The NO synthase inhibitors Nomega-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-esther and Nomega-nitro-l-arginine completely abolished the morphine-induced attenuation of NF-kappaB nuclear binding, demonstrating that the inhibitory action is mediated by NO release. CONCLUSION: Morphine causes immunosuppression, at least in part, via the NO-stimulated depression of NF-kappaB nuclear binding.

Acetylcysteine↗

Human vascular and cardiac endothelia express mu opiate receptor transcripts.

Pharmacologic and immunologic evidence suggests that nitric oxide-coupled mu-subtype opiate receptors are expressed in human vascular endothelium. In this study, we present molecular evidence of mu opiate receptor expression. Using primers derived from the human neuronal mu1 opiate receptor, we used RT-PCR to detect expression of mu transcripts from human endothelia. Sequence analysis of the RT-PCR products revealed 100% identity with the neuronal human mu1 receptor. We further show that pretreatment of human internal thoracic artery and cardiac atrial endothelium with the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1-alpha and -beta led to a significant increase in both the expression of the mu transcript and in morphine-stimulated nitric oxide release measured amperometrically. Taken together, these studies provide molecular evidence that mu-type opiate receptors are expressed in human vascular endothelia and that their expression can be upregulated by proinflammatory cytokines.

Base Sequence↗

Nociceptin, endomorphin-1 and -2 do not interact with invertebrate immune and neural mu 3 opiate receptor.

AIM: To determine if endomorphin-1, -2 and nociceptin (orphanin FQ) bind to the mu 3 opiate receptor subtype or release nitric oxide as mu 3 selective ligands do. METHODS: These opioid peptides were examined for their ability to displace [3H]dihydromorphine (DHM) binding from the invertebrate (immunocytes and pedal ganglia) mu 3 opiate receptor in membrane homogenates. The ligands were also tested for their ability to release nitric oxide from the same intact tissues utilizing an amperometric probe that measures nitric oxide in real-time. RESULTS: Endomorphin-1, -2 and nociceptin do not displace [3H]DHM binding from immunocyte or pedal ganglia membrane homogenates nor do they release nitric oxide from these tissues. CONCLUSION: Since these newly discovered opioid peptides do not interact with the mu 3 opiate receptor subtype, endogenous morphine's significance is enhanced because it appears to be the only naturally occurring opiate ligand for the receptor. Furthermore, since this study involves invertebrate tissues, this signal system had to evolve early during evolution.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Mytilus edulis pedal ganglia express mu opiate receptor transcripts exhibiting high sequence identity with human neuronal mu1.

Previous pharmacological and biochemical evidence suggests that mu-subtype opiate receptors are expressed in the mollusk Mytilus edulis (Bivalve), including the organism's ganglia. In this study, we present molecular evidence of mu opiate receptor expression. Using primers derived from the human neuronal mu1 opiate receptor, we used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect expression of mu transcripts from Mytilus pedal ganglia. Sequence analysis of the RT-PCR products revealed 95% identity with the neuronal human mu1 receptor. Furthermore, interleukin-1 and morphine exposure to excised pedal ganglia resulted in up- and down-regulation of the mu receptor transcripts, respectively. This study provides molecular evidence that mu-type opiate receptors are expressed in molluscan ganglia, suggesting that they first appear in invertebrate organisms and are retained during evolution.

Animals↗

Estradiol coupling to human monocyte nitric oxide release is dependent on intracellular calcium transients: evidence for an estrogen surface receptor.

We tested the hypothesis that estrogen acutely stimulates constitutive NO synthase (cNOS) activity in human peripheral monocytes by acting on an estrogen surface receptor. NO release was measured in real time with an amperometric probe. 17beta-estradiol exposure to monocytes stimulated NO release within seconds in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas 17alpha-estradiol had no effect. 17beta-estradiol conjugated to BSA (E2-BSA) also stimulated NO release, suggesting mediation by a membrane surface receptor. Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor inhibitor, antagonized the action of both 17beta-estradiol and E2-BSA, whereas ICI 182,780, a selective inhibitor of the nuclear estrogen receptor, had no effect. We further showed, using a dual emission microfluorometry in a calcium-free medium, that the 17beta-estradiol-stimulated release of monocyte NO was dependent on the initial stimulation of intracellular calcium transients in a tamoxifen-sensitive process. Leeching out the intracellular calcium stores abolished the effect of 17beta-estradiol on NO release. RT-PCR analysis of RNA obtained from the cells revealed a strong estrogen receptor-alpha amplification signal and a weak beta signal. Taken together, a physiological dose of estrogen acutely stimulates NO release from human monocytes via the activation of an estrogen surface receptor that is coupled to increases in intracellular calcium.

Calcium↗

IL-10 as a mediator in the HPA axis and brain.

Certain functional interactions between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are mediated by cytokines. The pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were among the first to be recognized in this regard. A modulator of these cytokines, IL-10, has been shown to have a wide range of activities in the immune system; in this review, we describe its production and actions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. IL-10 is produced in pituitary, hypothalamic, and neural tissues in addition to lymphocytes. IL-10 enhances corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and corticotropin (ACTH) production in hypothalamic and pituitary tissues, respectively. Further downstream in the HPA axis endogenous IL-10 has the potential to contribute to regulation of glucocorticosteroid production both tonically and following stressors. Our studies and those of others reviewed here indicate that IL-10 may be an important endogenous regulator in HPA axis activity and in CNS pathologies such as multiple sclerosis. Thus, in addition to its more widely recognized role in immunity, IL-10's neuroendocrine activities described here point to its role as an important regulator in communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗