Aromatic sulphonamides of aziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives as novel PDIA1 and PDIA3 inhibitors.

In this study, we report a series of newly synthesised sulphonamides of aziridine-2-carboxylic acid (Az-COOH) ester and amide analogues as potent protein disulphide isomerase (PDI, EC 5.3.4.1) inhibitors. The inhibitory activity on PDI was determined against recombinant human PDIA1 and PDIA3 proteins using an insulin reduction assay. These compounds in low micromolar to low nanomolar concentrations showed the effective in vitro inhibitory properties of PDIA1 with weaker effects on PDIA3. Complexes of 15N- and 15N,13C- uniformly labelled recombinant human PDIA1a with two PDIA1 inhibitors were produced and investigated by a protein nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was found that both C53 and C56 of the PDIA1 enzyme were involved in covalent binding. Finally, in a range of pharmacological studies, we demonstrated that investigated compounds displayed anti-cancer and anti-thrombotic activity. These findings demonstrate that sulphonamides of Az-COOH derivatives are promising candidates for the development of novel anti-cancer and anti-thrombotic agents.

Short-term treatment with nitrate is not sufficient to induce in vivo antithrombotic effects in rats and mice.

In humans, short-term supplementation with nitrate is hypotensive and inhibits platelet aggregation via an nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism. In the present work, we analyzed whether short-term treatment with nitrate induces antithrombotic effects in rats and mice. Arterial thrombosis was evoked electrically in a rat model in which renovascular hypertension was induced by partial ligation of the left renal artery. In mice expressing green fluorescent protein, laser-induced thrombosis was analyzed intravitally by using confocal microscope. Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) or sodium nitrite (NaNO2) was administered orally at a dose of 0.17 mmol/kg, twice per day for 3 days. Short-term nitrate treatment did not modify thrombus formation in either rats or mice, while nitrite administration led to pronounced antithrombotic activity. In hypertensive rats, nitrite treatment resulted in a significant decrease in thrombus weight (0.50 ± 0.08 mg vs. VEH 0.96 ± 0.09 mg; p < 0.01). In addition, nitrite inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) generation and prolonged prothrombin time. These effects were accompanied by significant increases in blood NOHb concentration and plasma nitrite concentration. In contrast, nitrate did not affect ex vivo platelet aggregation or prothrombin time and led to only slightly elevated nitrite plasma concentration. In mice, nitrate was also ineffective, while nitrite led to decreased platelet accumulation in the area of laser-induced endothelial injury. In conclusion, although nitrite induced profound NO-dependent antithrombotic effects in vivo, conversion of nitrates to nitrite in rats and mice over short-term 3-day treatment was not sufficient to elicit NO-dependent antiplatelet or antithrombotic effects.

Role of xanthine oxidoreductase in the anti-thrombotic effects of nitrite in rats in vivo.

The mechanisms underlying nitrite-induced effects on thrombosis and hemostasis in vivo are not clear. The goal of the work described here was to investigate the role of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) in the anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic activities of nitrite in rats in vivo. Arterial thrombosis was induced electrically in rats with renovascular hypertension by partial ligation of the left renal artery. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2, 0.17 mmol/kg twice daily for 3 days, p.o) was administered with or without one of the XOR-inhibitors: allopurinol (ALLO) and febuxostat (FEB) (100 and 5 mg/kg, p.o., for 3 days). Nitrite treatment (0.17 mmol/kg), which was associated with a significant increase in NOHb, nitrite/nitrate plasma concentration, resulted in a substantial decrease in thrombus weight (TW) (0.48 ± 0.03 mg vs. vehicle [VEH] 0.88 ± 0.08 mg, p < 0.001) without a significant hypotensive effect. The anti-thrombotic effect of nitrite was partially reversed by FEB (TW = 0.63 ± 0.06 mg, p < 0.05 vs. nitrites), but not by ALLO (TW = 0.43 ± 0.02 mg). In turn, profound anti-platelet effect of nitrite measured ex vivo using collagen-induced whole-blood platelet aggregation (70.5 ± 7.1% vs. VEH 100 ± 4.5%, p < 0.05) and dynamic thromboxaneB2 generation was fully reversed by both XOR-inhibitors. In addition, nitrite decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentration (0.47 ± 0.13 ng/ml vs. VEH 0.62 ± 0.04 ng/ml, p < 0.05) and FEB/ALLO reversed this effect. In vitro the anti-platelet effect of nitrite (1 mM) was reversed by FEB (0.1 mM) under hypoxia (0.5%O2) and normoxia (20%O2). Nitrite treatment had no effect on coagulation parameters. In conclusion, the nitrite-induced anti-platelet effect in rats in vivo is mediated by XOR, but XOR does not fully account for the anti-thrombotic effects of nitrite.

Angiotensin-(1-9) enhances stasis-induced venous thrombosis in the rat because of the impairment of fibrinolysis.

INTRODUCTION: ACE2 alternatively converts angiotensin (Ang) II into Ang-(1-7) and Ang I into Ang-(1-9). There is little information in the literature with respect to Ang-(1-9) properties. A number of studies show a link between peptides of the renin-angiotensin system and thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have investigated the influence of Ang-(1-9) on stasis-induced venous thrombosis in the rat. The contribution of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems, angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1) and MAS receptor in the mode of Ang-(1-9) action was also determined. RESULTS: Ang-(1-9) enhanced thrombosis development, decreased plasma concentration of tissue plasminogen activator and increased the level of its inhibitor (PAI-1). The action of Ang-(1-9) was reversed by selective antagonist of AT1 receptor, but not Ang-(1-7) antagonist. Ang-(1-9) did not bind to the AT1 receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Ang-(1-9) enhances venous thrombosis in the rat because of the impairment of fibrinolysis. The prothrombotic effect of Ang-(1-9) is mediated by Ang II acting via the AT1 receptor.

Angiotensin-(1-9), the product of angiotensin I conversion in platelets, enhances arterial thrombosis in rats.

Angiotensin (Ang) (1-9) is the renin-angiotensin-system peptide found in the plasma of healthy volunteers and after angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors therapy. In vitro experiments proved that Ang-(1-9) may be produced from Ang I. In our study, we tried to expand the poor data about the in vivo properties of Ang-(1-9). We revealed that Ang-(1-9) enhanced electrically stimulated arterial thrombosis in the carotid artery of Wistar rats. Losartan, a selective blocker of AT1 receptor for Ang II, abolished the prothrombotic activity of Ang-(1-9). This peptide increased plasma level of fibrinogen, augments fibrin generation, and similarly to Ang II, potentiated collagen induced platelet aggregation. Using HPLC, we found that after incubation of Ang-(1-9) with platelet homogenates or after intravenous administration this peptide is converted to Ang II. We concluded that Ang-(1-9) exerts an Ang II-like prothrombotic effect due to the conversion to Ang II in the circulatory system of rats and that platelets are involved in this process.

N-methylnicotinamide inhibits arterial thrombosis in hypertensive rats.

There are few findings indicating that nicotinamide may potentially influence intravascular thrombosis. Interestingly, N-methylnicotinamide, one of the metabolites of nicotinamide - could be more potent than its parent compound. In the present study we have investigated the influence of N-methylnicotinamide on arterial thrombosis in normotensive and renovascular hypertensive rats. The contribution of platelets, coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in the mode of N-methylnicotinamide action was also determined. Furthermore, we examined the role of nitric oxide/prostacyclin in the mechanisms of N-methylnicotinamide action. N-methylnicotinamide, but not nicotinamide, administered intravenously into renovascular hypertensive rats developing electrically induced arterial thrombosis caused dose-dependent decrease of thrombus weight, collagen-induced platelet aggregation and plasma antigen/activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor - 1, without changing of occlusion time, routine coagulation parameters and plasma activity of tissue plasminogen activator. Indomethacin - an inhibitor of prostacyclin synthesis, completely abolished the antithrombotic and antiplatelet effect of N-methylnicotinamide, and the plasma level of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) , prostacyclin metabolite, increased simultaneously with the inhibition of thrombus formation. Our study shows that N-methylnicotinamide via production/release of prostacyclin inhibits arterial thrombosis development. The antithrombotic effect of N-methylnicotinamide is accompanied by platelet inhibition and enhanced fibrinolysis, due to the decrease production of plasminogen activator inhibitor - 1.

Antithrombotic effect of tissue and plasma type angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in experimental thrombosis in rats.

This study compared the antithrombotic effect of plasma angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is): captopril (CAP), enalapril (ENA) and tissue ACE-Is: perindopril (PER), quinapril (QUIN) in experimental venous and arterial thrombosis. Normotensive Wistar rats were treated p.o. with CAP (75 mg/kg), ENA (20 mg/kg), PER (2 mg/kg) and QUIN (3 mg/kg) for 10 days. The influence of ACE-Is on coagulation and fibrinolytic systems as well as platelet function was evaluated. The hypotensive effect of ACE-Is was equal in all groups. QUIN maintained the final carotid blood flow at the highest value in comparison to PER and plasma ACE-Is. The arterial thrombus weight was reduced in PER and QUIN groups while venous thrombus weight was also reduced after CAP. Tissue and plasma ACE-Is caused the inhibition of platelet adhesion and aggregation. A reduction of fibrin generation, prolongation of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and shortening of euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) were observed after PER and QUIN treatment. In conclusion, given in equipotent hypotensive doses, tissue ACE-Is exerted more pronounced antithrombotic effect than plasma ACE-Is in experimental thrombosis. The differences between tissue and plasma ACE-Is in terms of their more pronounced inhibition of experimental thrombosis may be related to the intensified activation of fibrinolysis and inhibition of coagulation.

The physiological significance of the alternative pathways of angiotensin II production.

Although the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) in clinical practice brought the great chance to recognize the RAS role in the physiology and pathology, there are still many questions which we cannot answer. This article reviews actually known pathways of angiotensin II (Ang II) and other peptides of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) production and their physiological significance. The various carboxy- and aminopeptidases generate a range of peptides, like Ang II, Ang III, Ang IV, Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) possessing their own and known biological activity. In this issue especially the alternative pathways of Ang II synthesis involving enzymes other than angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) are discussed. We present many evidences for the significance of a new pathway of Ang II production. It has been clearly shown that Ang I may be converted to Ang-(1-9) by angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE-2) and then into Ang II in some tissues, but the enzymes responsible for this process are unknown till now. Although there are many data proving the existence of alternative pathways of Ang II production, we can still block only ACE and angiotensin receptor 1 (AT(1)) in clinical practice. It seems that a lot needs to be done before we can wildly complexively control RAS and treat more effectively cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension or heart failure.

Angiotensin II via AT1 receptor accelerates arterial thrombosis in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Although there are some in vitro evidence that angiotensin II (Ang II) may promote thrombosis, there is still no data concerning effect of Ang II on arterial thrombus formation. In the present study we have investigated the influence of Ang II on electrically induced arterial thrombosis in a common carotid artery of renovascular hypertensive rats. Furthermore, we examined if Ang II effect is mediated via AT1 receptor. We measured some coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters at the same time. Since platelets play crucial role in the initiation of arterial thrombosis their contribution in the mode of Ang II action was also determined. Intravenous infusion of Ang II caused significant increase in arterial thrombus weight, which was reversed by losartan, selective AT1 receptor antagonist. The prothrombotic effect of Ang II was accompanied by increase in haemostatic and decrease in fibrinolytic potential of rat plasma. While number of data has clearly demonstrated that Ang II can augment human platelets aggregation, at least in rats, platelets were not involved in the mechanism of Ang II action. Our study shows that Ang II via AT1 receptor accelerates arterial thrombosis in renovascular hypertensive rat, therefore may be considered as a risk factor of myocardial infarction or stroke.

Antithrombotic effect of L-arginine in hypertensive rats.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) on haemostasis in stasis model of venous thrombosis in renal hypertensive rats. The effect of the single dose (i.v. 300 mg/kg bolus+300 mg/kg/h) and of the 10-day application (p.o. 1 g/kg, once daily) of L-Arg was determined. L-Arg reduced the blood pressure both in the acute and long-term application. The single dose of L-Arg decreased the occurrence rate of the thrombus whereas long-term administration reduced significantly the thrombus weight. There were no differences in prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time while the fibrinogen concentration decreased both in the acute and the long-term experiment. L-Arg shortened euglobulin clot lysis time and bleeding time in the long-term application. The chronic L-Arg treatment also inhibited significantly collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The overall haemostasis and coagulation potentials were inhibited and the fibrinolysis potential was higher in the group receiving this amino-acid. The results show that L-Arg, in a complex way, evokes the antithrombotic effect in the model of venous thrombosis in hypertensive rats.