A role for oleoylethanolamide in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a bioactive lipid that stimulates nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors and regulates appetite and fat metabolism. It has not previously been shown to have a role in cancer. However, a mass spectrometry-based lipidomics platform revealed the presence of high amounts of OEA in the plasma of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients compared with normal donors. CLL cells produced OEA and the magnitude of plasma OEA levels was related directly to the circulating leukemic cell number. OEA from CLL cells was increased by URB-597, an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and decreased by inflammatory mediators that downregulate expression of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD). These enzymes degrade and synthesize OEA, respectively. Nonphysiologic doses of OEA prevented spontaneous apoptosis of CLL cells in a receptor-independent manner that was mimicked by its free fatty acid (FFA) derivative oleate. However, OEA-containing supernatants from CLL cells induced lipolysis in adipocytes, lipid products from adipocytes protected CLL cells from cytotoxic chemotherapy, and increased levels of FFAs were found in CLL plasma that correlated with OEA. We suggest OEA is a lipolytic factor produced by CLL cells to fuel their growth with a potential role in drug resistance and cancer cachexia.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characterization of an oral lysophosphatidic acid type 1 receptor-selective antagonist.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid that signals through a family of at least six G protein-coupled receptors designated LPA1₋6. LPA type 1 receptor (LPA1) exhibits widespread tissue distribution and regulates a variety of physiological and pathological cellular functions. Here, we evaluated the in vitro pharmacology, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties of the LPA1-selective antagonist AM095 (sodium, {4'-[3-methyl-4-((R)-1-phenyl-ethoxycarbonylamino)-isoxazol-5-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetate) and assessed the effects of AM095 in rodent models of lung and kidney fibrosis and dermal wound healing. In vitro, AM095 was a potent LPA1 receptor antagonist because it inhibited GTPγS binding to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell membranes overexpressing recombinant human or mouse LPA1 with IC50 values of 0.98 and 0.73 µM, respectively, and exhibited no LPA1 agonism. In functional assays, AM095 inhibited LPA-driven chemotaxis of CHO cells overexpressing mouse LPA1 (IC50= 778 nM) and human A2058 melanoma cells (IC50 = 233 nM). In vivo, we demonstrated that AM095: 1) had high oral bioavailability and a moderate half-life and was well tolerated at the doses tested in rats and dogs after oral and intravenous dosing, 2) dose-dependently reduced LPA-stimulated histamine release, 3) attenuated bleomycin-induced increases in collagen, protein, and inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchalveolar lavage fluid, and 4) decreased kidney fibrosis in a mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction model. Despite its antifibrotic activity, AM095 had no effect on normal wound healing after incisional and excisional wounding in rats. These data demonstrate that AM095 is an LPA1 receptor antagonist with good oral exposure and antifibrotic activity in rodent models.

A novel, orally active LPA(1) receptor antagonist inhibits lung fibrosis in the mouse bleomycin model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the potential of an antagonist selective for the lysophosphatidic acid receptor, LPA(1), in treating lung fibrosis We evaluated the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of the high affinity, selective, oral LPA(1)-antagonist (4'-{4-[(R)-1-(2-chloro-phenyl)-ethoxycarbonylamino]-3-methyl-isoxazol-5-yl}-biphenyl-4-yl)-acetic acid (AM966). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The potency and selectivity of AM966 for LPA(1) receptors was determined in vitro by calcium flux and cell chemotaxis assays using recombinant and native cell cultures. The in vivo efficacy of AM966 to reduce tissue injury, vascular leakage, inflammation and fibrosis was assessed at several time points in the mouse bleomycin model. KEY RESULTS: AM966 was a potent antagonist of LPA(1) receptors, with selectivity for this receptor over the other LPA receptors. In vitro, AM966 inhibited LPA-stimulated intracellular calcium release (IC(50)= 17 nM) from Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing human LPA(1) receptors and inhibited LPA-induced chemotaxis (IC(50)= 181 nM) of human IMR-90 lung fibroblasts expressing LPA(1) receptors. AM966 demonstrated a good pharmacokinetic profile following oral dosing in mice. In the mouse, AM966 reduced lung injury, vascular leakage, inflammation and fibrosis at multiple time points following intratracheal bleomycin instillation. AM966 also decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, transforming growth factor beta1, hyaluronan and matrix metalloproteinase-7, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings demonstrate that AM966 is a potent, selective, orally bioavailable LPA(1) receptor antagonist that may be beneficial in treating lung injury and fibrosis, as well as other diseases that are characterized by pathological inflammation, oedema and fibrosis.

Effects of ketamine and N-methyl-D-aspartate on glutamate and dopamine release in the rat prefrontal cortex: modulation by a group II selective metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist LY379268.

Previous studies have shown that the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)2/3 agonist LY354740 attenuated glutamate release in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) induced by the non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist phencyclidine. In the present study we examined the effects of the more potent mGluR2/3 selective agonist LY379268 on ketamine-evoked glutamate and dopamine (DA) release in mPFC of male rats. Subjects were implanted with a unilateral microdialysis probe in the mPFC and were tested 12-24 h after implantation. Ketamine (18 mg/kg, s.c.) evoked a significant release of glutamate and DA, although the glutamate response was slower in onset compared with DA. Pretreatment with either systemic (3 mg/kg s.c.) or local (1 microM, in the probe) LY379268 blocked ketamine-evoked glutamate, but not DA, release. When applied directly to the mPFC via the dialysis probe, ketamine (1 mM in the probe) had no effect on glutamate release but did significantly enhance the release of DA. Application of NMDA (500 microM in the probe), on the other hand, decreased DA while increasing glutamate release. The effect of NMDA on evoking glutamate release was blocked by systemic but not local administration of LY379268. These findings indicate that systemic ketamine increases both glutamate and DA release in mPFC and that the effect on glutamate can be blocked by stimulating mPFC group II mGluR receptors. Local ketamine, on the other hand, does not increase glutamate but does increase DA release. This suggests that ketamine acts outside of the mPFC to enhance glutamate, but within the mPFC to enhance DA release. The origin of the ketamine effect on mPFC glutamate is currently not known.