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Phospholipase A2 activation influences the processing and secretion of the amyloid precursor protein.

The phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors quinacrine, manoalide and scalaradial inhibit the carbachol-stimulated secretion of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) from cells transfected with the human m1 muscarinic receptor. Conversely, activation of PLA2 by melittin increases secretion of an apparently immature species of APP from these cells. These results implicate PLA2 in regulating APP processing and secretion, which may have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Inhibition of phospholipase A2 activities and some inflammatory responses by the marine product ircinin.

The marine product ircinin has been tested for its effects on secretory and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities in vitro as well as for inhibition of cellular functions in human neutrophils and inflammatory responses in mice. Ircinin inhibited Naja naja venom, human synovial recombinant, bee venom and zymosan-injected rat air pouch PLA2 with IC50 values in the microM range, similar to those of the known inhibitor scalaradial. On the other hand, ircinin was less active on cytosolic PLA2 from human monocytes and decreased potently the release of LTB4 in human neutrophils. This marine product affected weakly human neutrophil functions like superoxide generation and degranulation. In the zymosan-injected rat air pouch ircinin inhibited in vivo the activity of PLA2 present in exudates and reduced dose-dependently myeloperoxidase levels, whereas cell migration was inhibited only at the highest dose tested. This compound exerted a potent anti-oedematous effect after topical application in the mouse ear oedema test. Ircinin is a new inhibitor of PLA2 activity and our results suggest a potential role for this marine product as an inhibitor of inflammatory processes.

Analysis of Variance↗

The anti-inflammatory activity of marine natural products--6-n-tridecylsalicylic acid, flexibilide and dendalone 3-hydroxybutyrate.

Three novel marine substances, 6-n-tridecylsalicylic acid, flexibilide and dendalone 3-hydroxybutyrate, isolated from a brown alga, a soft coral and a dictyoceratid sponge respectively, were active after oral administration in both acute and chronic animal models of inflammation. 6-n-Tridecylsalicylic acid has similar anti-inflammatory activity but less ulcerogenic activity on a molar basis than salicylic acid. The structure and activity of flexibilide did not resemble any known anti-inflammatory substance. Dendalone 3-hydroxybutyrate was a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthetase activity and platelet aggregation in vitro.

Animals↗

Chronic intracerebroventricular delivery of the secretory phospholipase A2 inhibitor, 12-epi-scalaradial, does not improve outcome after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

Phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) seem to be involved in the pathophysiology of ischemic brain injury, but their specific role is far from being completely understood. The present study was carried out to ascertain how and to what extent secretory PLA2s (sPLA2s) activity influences outcome after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and to correlate this with the inflammatory response. To do this we used the potent and selective sPLA2 inhibitor, 12-epi-scalaradial. Male Wistar rats were separated into three groups: a control group receiving intracerebroventricular vehicle, and two groups receiving intracerebroventricular 0.005 or 0.5 microg/h 12-epi-scalaradial. Every animal was subjected to middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (90 min, intraluminal thread technique) under continuous moni-torization of cerebrocortical perfusion (CP, laser-Doppler flowmetry), followed by reperfusion (3 days). Neurological status, infarct volume, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were the main end points. Three days after the 90-min ischemia period, neurological examination did not reveal significant differences between the three groups of rats. Control rats showed a mean infarct volume of 145.9 +/- 24.7 mm3 (21 +/- 4.1% of the ipsilateral hemisphere volume), while mean infarct volume in rats treated with 0.005 or 0.5 microg/h 12-epi-scalaradial increased to 164.8 +/- 86.8 mm3 (22.0 +/- 10.9%) and 211.5 +/- 12.2 mm3 (28 +/- 3%, P < 0.05), respectively. Treatment with the highest dose of 12-epi-scalaradial (0.5 microg/h) increased MPO activity in the ipsilateral hemisphere by about 140% (from 0.59 +/- 0.59 to 1.42 +/- 1.03 units of activity/g of tissue in comparison with the control ischemic hemisphere, P < 0.05). Overall, our results point to a positive rather than a negative influence of sPLA2 activity during ischemia. This, along with its inability to decrease the inflammatory response, does not allow to propose the use of 12-epi-scalardial as a potential drug for stroke therapy.

Animals↗

Lactandrate: a D-homo-aza-androsterone alkylator in the treatment of breast cancer.

The sensitivity of breast neoplasms to hormonal control provides the basis of novel investigational treatments with steroidal alkylators. An androsterone D-lactam steroidal ester, the 3beta-hydroxy-13alpha-amino-13,17-seco- 5alpha-androstan-17-oic-13,17-lactam, p-bis(2-chloroethyl)amino phenyl acetate (lactandrate) was synthesized and tested for antitumor activity against six human breast cancer cell lines in vitro and against two murine and one xenograft mammary tumors in vivo. A docking study on the binding interactions of lactandrate with the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) was inquired. In vitro testing of lactandrate cytostatic and cytotoxic activity was performed on T47D, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, BT-549, Hs578T, MDA-MB-435 breast adenocarcinoma human cell lines. In vivo testing was performed on two murine mammary tumors, the MXT tumor and CD8F1 adenocarcinoma, as well as on human mammary carcinoma MX-1 xenograft. Molecular modeling techniques were adopted to predict a possible location and interaction mode of the molecule into LBD. Lactandrate induced significantly high antitumor effect against all tested in vitro and in vivo models. The cell lines with positive ER expression found to be significantly more sensitive to lactandrate. Moreover, lactandrate found to be positioned inside the binding cavity with its steroidal moiety, whilst the alkylating moiety protrudes out of receptor's pocket. Lactandrate produced important anticancer activity on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Some correlation between ER and lactandrate effect was demonstrated. Docking studies provide the basis for the structure-based design of improved steroidal alkylating esters for the treatment of estrogen-related cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Two-step inactivation of bee venom phospholipase A2 by scalaradial.

Scalaradial (SLD), a marine natural product isolated from the sponge (Cacospongia sp., possesses anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro (Pharmacologist 32: 168, 1990). In this study we characterize its effects against bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2; EC 3.1.1.4). SLD is a potent inactivator of bee venom PLA2 with an IC50 value of 0.07 microM. Inactivation of bee venom PLA2 occurred in a time-dependent, irreversible manner. The rate of inactivation followed first-order reaction kinetics and was dependent on the concentration of SLD. Kinetic analysis suggested a two-step mechanism of inactivation: an initial apparent noncovalent binding (Ki = 4.5 x 10(-5) M) followed by covalent modification. The rate of inactivation was reduced markedly in the presence of excess phosphatidylcholine, suggesting that modification of the enzyme occurs at or near the substrate binding site.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Effects of scalaradial, a novel inhibitor of 14 kDa phospholipase A2, on human neutrophil function.

Scalaradial, a marine natural product with anti-inflammatory activity, has been shown to be a selective inhibitor of 14 kDa type II phospholipase A2(PLA2). We have examined the inhibition by scalaradial (0.1 nM to 10 microM) of neutrophil function (degranulation) in response to receptor-mediated activation [N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), 30 nM; leuokotriene B4 (LTB4), 100 nM; platelet-activating factor (PAF), 100 nM] and non-receptor-mediated stimuli [A23187 (1 microM) and thapsigargin (100 nM)]. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of scalaradial to inhibit the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in response to fMLP, LTB4, A23187, and thapsigargin as well as its ability to prevent either fMLP- or LTB4-mediated elevation in inositol phosphate production (InsP). Scalaradial was a potent inhibitor of both receptor- (IC50 = 50-200 nM) and non-receptor- (IC50 = 40-900 nM) mediated degranulation. Although scalaradial inhibited the mobilization of Ca2+ induced by fMLP, LTB4, and PAF, it did not affect the maximal Ca2+ levels attained with A23187 or thapsigargin. Neutrophil-binding studies with [3H]fMLP and [3H]LTB4 would suggest that the effect of scalaradial on agonist-induced degranulation and increase in intracellular Ca2+ was not at the receptor level because 50-fold higher concentrations were required to have a significant effect on the binding of these agonists. To determine if scalaradial affected phosphatidylinositol selective phospholipase C (PI-PLC) activity, assays were conducted to monitor fMLP- and LTB4-induced formation of InsPs using myo-[3H]inositol-labeled U-937 cells. In these cells, 2.5 to 9-fold higher concentrations of scalaradial were required to inhibit PI-PLC activity than to inhibit agonist-induced degranulation of neutrophils, suggesting that the effects of scalaradial on Ca2+ and degranulation are not the sole result of blocking receptor activation of PI-PLC. Results obtained with receptor-mediated stimuli suggest that scalaradial may have direct effects on Ca2+ channels and InsP turnover, but inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ levels was not required for scalaradial to block degranulation since scalaradial was capable of inhibiting degranulation produced by either A23187 or thapsigargin, without changing the maximal Ca2+ levels obtained with these two stimuli. These results demonstrate that scalaradial can inhibit degranulation in the presence of micromolar intracellular Ca2+ concentration, thus supporting the hypothesis that a 14 kDa PLA2 may be important in the regulation of neutrophil degranulation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Regulation of prostaglandin H synthase 2 expression in human monocytes by the marine natural products manoalide and scalaradial. Novel effects independent of inhibition of lipid mediator production.

The marine natural products manoalide and scalaradial are potent anti-inflammatory agents that inactivate the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in vitro. To study the mechanism of inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in human monocytes by manoalide and scalaradial, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced prostaglandin biosynthesis and induction of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) were evaluated. LPS (10 ng/mL) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta, 50-1000 ng/mL) but not tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha, 300 ng/mL) induced the expression of the PGHS-2 isoform as determined by immunoblot analysis with a specific polyclonal antibody for PGHS-2. Manoalide and scalaradial (1-10 microM) inhibited LPS-induced endogeneous PGE2 production, reduced the LPS-induced PGHS activity, and reduced the expression of PGHS-2. Indomethacin [a PGHS inhibitor (0.01 to 0.1 microM)], zileuton [a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (3-10 microM)], and WEB-2806 [a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist (30 microM)] did not affect the LPS-induced expression of PGHS-2 in human monocytes. These results suggest that modulation of lipid mediator production by manoalide or scalaradial may not be involved in the observed effects on the expression of PGHS-2. Manoalide and scalaradial also inhibited the release of IL-1 beta and TNF alpha from LPS-stimulated monocytes. Expression of PGHS-2 induced by either LPS or IL-1 beta was blocked by the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra, 2 micrograms/mL) but not by rolipram, a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor that inhibits TNF alpha but not IL-1 beta release. Similar to LPS, IL-1 beta-induced PGHS-2 expression was apparently not regulated by lipid mediators such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes or PAF as determined with specific inhibitors and antagonists. Scalaradial and to some extent manoalide were capable of blocking the IL-1 beta-induced expression of PHGS-2. These results indicate that IL-1 beta is the predominant cytokine responsible for the induction of PGHS-2 in the human monocyte. Furthermore, marine natural products such as scalaradial have novel effects on the IL-1 beta-mediated induction of PGHS-2 in human monocytes, which appears to be independent of effects on lipid mediator production.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

A steroid structure which refutes the isolation of C(17)-C(20) rotational isomers.

Isolation of two C(17)-C(20) rotamers of 20-methyl-20-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-5-pregnene-3beta, 17alpha-diol has been reported. X-Ray analysis of a diacetate derivative of one of the "rotamers" shows that the actual structure is 3beta-acetoxy-17aalpha-(2-acetoxyethoxy)-17alpha,17abeta-dimethyl-D-homo-5-androsten-17beta-ol (C28H44O6). Thus, although this investigation refutes the existence of C(17)-C(20) rotamers, it suggests a possible new pathway for D-homo steroid synthesis.

Homosteroids↗