Cell-type-specific determination of reactive oxygen species by flow cytometry.

BACKGROUND: Seminal leukocyte-generated reactive oxygen species may have a significant impact on sperm intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, therefore contributing to oxidative damage and consequent functional impairment of spermatozoa. This relationship may be utilized for male urogenital inflammation-driven oxidative stress diagnostics. OBJECTIVE: To obtain seminal cell-specific, reactive oxygen species-related fluorescence intensity cut-off values to differentiate leukocytospermic samples displaying reactive oxygen species overproduction (oxidative burst) from normozoospermic seminal samples. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ejaculates gained by masturbation were obtained from patients in the framework of andrology consultations. The results published in this paper were generated from samples for which the attending physician requested spermatograms and seminal reactive oxygen species laboratory tests. Routine seminal analyses were performed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Samples were divided into normozoospermic "non-inflamed," and leukocytospermic groups. The semen was stained by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and the reactive oxygen species-related fluorescence signal and the percentage of reactive oxygen species-positive spermatozoa within the living population were quantified by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Reactive oxygen species-related mean fluorescence intensity was higher in both spermatozoa and leukocytes from leukocytospermic samples than in those from normozoospermic samples. Mean fluorescence intensity in spermatozoa was positively and linearly correlated with mean fluorescence intensity measured in leukocytes in both groups. DISCUSSION: The capacity of spermatozoa to generate reactive oxygen species is at least three log lower than that of granulocytes. The question is whether the reactive oxygen species-producing machinery of spermatozoa is capable of causing autologous oxidative stress or whether leukocytes are the predominant source of seminal oxidative stress. Based on our observations, the reactive oxygen species production of leukocytes may have a significant impact on the overall reactive oxygen species levels measured in spermatozoa. CONCLUSION: Reactive oxygen species-overproducing leukocytospermic and normozoospermic seminal samples can reliably be differentiated based on reactive oxygen species mean fluorescence intensity measurement.

Preclinical characterization of CPL302-253, a selective inhibitor of PI3Kδ, as the candidate for the inhalatory treatment and prevention of Asthma.

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease. Although effective asthma therapies are available, part of asthmatic population do not respond to these treatment options. In this work we present the result of development of CPL302-253 molecule, a selective PI3Kδ inhibitor. This molecule is intended to be a preclinical candidate for dry powder inhalation in asthma treatment. Studies we performed showed that this molecule is safe and effective PI3Kδ inhibitor that can impact many immune functions. We developed a short, 15-day HDM induced asthma mouse model, in which we showed that CPL302-253 is able to block inflammatory processes leading to asthma development in vivo.

Assessment of the Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxant Effect of Drotaverine.

BACKGROUND: Drotaverine, a type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhibitor, blocks the degradation of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate. However, published receptor binding data showed that drotaverin also binds to the L-type voltage-operated calcium channel (L-VOCC). Based on these molecular mechanisms of action, a direct and indirect (by blocking the constrictor response) relaxant effect on airway smooth muscle can be predicted, which has not yet been assessed. SUMMARY: Accordingly, drotaverine and reference agents were tested both on the histamine-, methacholine-, or KCl-induced contraction response and on precontracted guinea pig tracheal preparations. It was found that drotaverine not only relaxed the precontracted tracheal preparations but also decreased mediator-induced contraction. These effects of drotaverine were concentration dependent, with a significantly higher potency on the KCl-induced response, than on either the histamine or methacholine induced one. A similar result was noted for nifedipine. The PDE inhibitor, theophylline, also relaxed the precontracted preparations but was ineffective on the mediator-induced contraction in a physiologically relevant concentration range. Moreover, theophylline did not show selectivity and was the least potent relaxant among the 3 tested molecules. Key Message: These results show that drotaverine is a more potent airway smooth muscle relaxant molecule than theophylline. This enhanced potency on relaxation and inhibition of the constrictor response, at least partly, may be explained by the combined L-VOCC blocking and PDE inhibitory potential of drotaverine.

Potential L-Type Voltage-Operated Calcium Channel Blocking Effect of Drotaverine on Functional Models.

Drotaverine is considered an inhibitor of cyclic-3',5'-nucleotide-phophodiesterase (PDE) enzymes; however, published receptor binding data also support the potential L-type voltage- operated calcium channel (L-VOCC) blocking effect of drotaverine. Hence, in this work, we focus on the potential L-VOCC blocking effect of drotaverine by using L-VOCC-associated functional in vitro models. Accordingly, drotaverine and reference agents were tested on KCl-induced guinea pig tracheal contraction. Drotaverine, like the L-VOCC blockers nifedipine or diltiazem, inhibited the KCl-induced inward Ca2+- induced contraction in a concentration- dependent fashion. The PDE inhibitor theophylline had no effect on the KCl-evoked contractions, indicating its lack of inhibition on inward Ca2+ flow. Drotaverine was also tested on the L-VOCC-mediated resting Ca2+ refill model. In this model, the extracellular Ca2+ enters the cells to replenish the emptied intracellular Ca2+ stores. Drotaverine and L-VOCC blocker reference molecules inhibited Ca2+ replenishment of Ca2+-depleted preparations detected by agonist-induced contractions in post-Ca2+ replenishment Ca2+-free medium. Theophylline did not modify the Ca2+ store replenishment after contraction. It seems that drotaverine, but not theophylline, inhibits inward Ca2+ flux. The addition of CaCl2 to Ca2+-free medium containing the agonist induced inward Ca2+ flow and subsequent contraction of Ca2+-depleted tracheal preparations. Drotaverine, similar to the L-VOCC blockers, inhibited inward Ca2+ flow and blunted the slope of CaCl2-induced contraction in agonist containing Ca2+-free medium with Ca2+-depleted tracheal preparations. These results show that drotaverine behaves like L-VOCC blockers but, unlike PDE inhibitors using L-VOCC associated in vitro experimental models.

Interaction of SSR161421, a novel specific adenosine A(3) receptor antagonist with adenosine A(3) receptor agonists both in vitro and in vivo.

A novel adenosine A(3) receptor antagonist (SSR161421) was characterized by both receptor binding assays and pharmacological tests. Binding studies on cloned human adenosine receptors showed that SSR161421 has high affinity for adenosine hA(3) receptors (K(i)=0.37 nM) with at least 1000-fold selectivity compared to hA(1), hA(2A) and hA(2B) receptors. The receptor antagonist nature of SSR161421 was determined in a functional study on Chinese hamster ovarian cells (CHO) cells expressing human adenosine A(3) receptors. SSR161421 competitively antagonized the effect of 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methylcarboxamide (Cl-IB-MECA) on cAMP production with a pA2 value in a luciferase reporter gene construct. In mice, intravenously administered SSR161421 inhibited the N6-(4-aminobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyl-uronamide dihydrochloride (AB-MECA) induced increase in plasma histamine levels (ED(50)=2.0mg/kg) and the Cl-IB-MECA evoked plasma extravasation (ID(50)=2.9 mg/kg) and oedema formation (ID(50)=4.6 mg/kg) in mouse ear.

Evaluation of SSR161421, a novel orally active adenosine A3 receptor antagonist on pharmacology models.

The effects of a novel adenosine A(3) receptor antagonist, SSR161421, were examined on both antigen per se and adenosine receptor agonist-increased airway responses in antigen-sensitized guinea pigs. Adenosine (10(-5)M) and AB-MECA [N6-(4-aminobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyl-uronamide dihydrochloride] (10(-7)M) increased the antigen response up to 61 ± 3.0% and 88 ± 5.2% of maximal contraction, respectively. The agonists of adenosine A(1) and A(2) adenosine receptors NECA [1-(6-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-1-deoxy-N-ethyl-b-d-ribofuranuronamide-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine], R-PIA [N(6)-R-phenylisopropyladenosine], and CGS21680 (10(-7)M) were ineffective. In vivo intravenous adenosine (600 µg/kg) and AB-MECA (30 µg/kg) increased the threshold antigen dose-induced bronchoconstriction by 214 ± 13.0% and 220 ± 15.2%, respectively. SSR161421 in vitro (IC(50)=5.9 × 10(-7)M) inhibited the AB-MECA-enhanced antigen-induced airway smooth muscle contractions and also in vivo the bronchoconstriction following either intravenous (ED(50)=0.008 mg/kg) or oral (ED(50)=0.03 mg/kg) administration in sensitized guinea pigs. Antigen itself could evoke tracheal contraction in vitro and bronchoconstriction in vivo in antigen-sensitized guinea pigs. SSR161421 (3 × 10(-6)M) decreased the AUC of the antigen-induced contraction-time curve to 20.8 ± 5.4% from the 100% control level. SSR161421 effectively reversed the antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, plasma leak and cell recruitment with EC(50) values of 0.33 mg/kg p.o., 0.02 mg/kg i.p. and 3 mg/kg i.p., respectively.

A novel orally active inhibitor of HLE.

Human leukocyte elastase (HLE) is a serine proteinase, capable of degrading a variety of structural matrix proteins. SSR69071 2-[(4-isopropyl-6-methoxy-1,1-dioxido-3-oxo-1,2-benzisothiazol-2(3H)-yl)methoxy]-9-(2-piperidin-1-ylethoxy)-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one was selected as a novel orally active HLE inhibitor for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and several inflammatory diseases (WO 01/44245 A1) (J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., submitted for publication).

Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of 2-(9-(2-piperidinoethoxy)-4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yloxymethyl)-4-(1-methylethyl)-6-methoxy-1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one-1,1-dioxide (SSR69071), a novel, orally active elastase inhibitor.

Human leukocyte elastase (HLE) is a proteinase capable of degrading a variety of proteins. Under normal circumstances, the proteolytic activity of HLE is effectively controlled by its natural inhibitors. However, an imbalance between elastase and its endogenous inhibitors may result in several pathophysiological states such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and chronic inflammatory diseases. It is anticipated that an orally active HLE inhibitor could be useful for the treatment of these diseases. 2-(9-(2-Piperidinoethoxy)-4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yloxymethyl)-4-(1-methylethyl)-6-methoxy-1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one-1,1-dioxide (SSR69071) is a potent inhibitor of HLE, with the inhibition constant (K(i)) and the constant for inactivation process (k(on)) being 0.0168 +/- 0.0014 nM and 0.183 +/- 0.013 10(6)/mol sr, respectively. The dissociation rate constant, k(off), was 3.11 + 0.37 10(-6)/s. SSR69071 displays a higher affinity for human elastase than for rat (K(i) = 3 nM), mouse (K(i) = 1.8 nM), and rabbit (K(i) = 58 nM) elastases. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice orally treated with SSR69071 inhibits HLE (ex vivo), and in this model, SSR69071 has a dose-dependent efficacy with an ED(50) = 10.5 mg/kg p.o. SSR69071 decreases significantly the acute lung hemorrhage induced by HLE (ED(50) = 2.8 mg/kg p.o.) in mice. Furthermore, SSR69071 prevents carrageenan- (ED(30) = 2.2 mg/kg) and HLE-induced (ED(30) = 2.7 mg/kg) paw edema in rats after p.o. administration. In conclusion, SSR69071 is a selective, orally active, and potent inhibitor of HLE with good penetration in respiratory tissues.