The association of statins plus LDL receptor-targeted liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin increases in vitro drug delivery across blood-brain barrier cells.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The passage of drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the efficacy of chemotherapy in brain tumours. For instance, the anticancer drug doxorubicin, which is effective against glioblastoma in vitro, has poor efficacy in vivo, because it is extruded by P-glycoprotein (Pgp/ABCB1), multidrug resistance-related proteins and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) in BBB cells. The aim of this study was to convert poorly permeant drugs like doxorubicin into drugs able to cross the BBB. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Experiments were performed on primary human cerebral microvascular endothelial hCMEC/D3 cells, alone and co-cultured with human brain and epithelial tumour cells. KEY RESULTS: Statins reduced the efflux activity of Pgp/ABCB1 and BCRP/ABCG2 in hCMEC/D3 cells by increasing the synthesis of NO, which elicits the nitration of critical tyrosine residues on these transporters. Statins also increased the number of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors exposed on the surface of BBB cells, as well as on tumour cells like human glioblastoma. We showed that the association of statins plus drug-loaded nanoparticles engineered as LDLs was effective as a vehicle for non-permeant drugs like doxorubicin to cross the BBB, allowing its delivery into primary and metastatic brain tumour cells and to achieve significant anti-tumour cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We suggest that our 'Trojan horse' approach, based on the administration of statins plus a LDL receptor-targeted liposomal drug, might have potential applications in the pharmacological therapy of different brain diseases for which the BBB represents an obstacle.

IGHV unmutated CLL B cells are more prone to spontaneous apoptosis and subject to environmental prosurvival signals than mutated CLL B cells.

Tumor cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are more prone to apoptosis when cultured ex vivo, because they lack prosurvival signals furnished in vivo via B-cell receptor (BCR)-dependent and -independent pathways. This study compared the susceptibility of unmutated (UM) and mutated (M) CLL B cells to spontaneous apoptosis and prosurvival signals. UM CLL B cells showed a significantly higher rate of spontaneous apoptosis than M CLL B cells. Nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) was rapidly inactivated, and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression progressively down-regulated in the UM CLL B cells. CD40-Ligand, interleukin-4 and stromal cells significantly improved their viability and partially recovered Bcl-2, but not NF-kB expression. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells also offered protection of UM CLL B cells, and recovered both NF-kB and Bcl-2 expression. T cells, rather than nurse-like cells, were responsible for protecting UM CLL B cells by means of cell-to-cell contact and soluble factors. Despite their more aggressive features, UM CLL B cells are more susceptible to spontaneous apoptosis and depend from environmental prosurvival signals. This vulnerability of UM CLL B cells can be exploited as a selective target of therapeutic interventions.

Pleiotropic effects of cardioactive glycosides.

Cardioactive glycosides, like digoxin, ouabain and related compounds, are drugs that inhibit Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and have a strong inotropic effect on heart: they cause the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger to extrude Na+ in exchange with Ca(2+) and therefore increase the [Ca(2+)](i) concentration. For this reason, some of these drugs are currently used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Recently it has been discovered that cardiac glycosides exert pleiotropic effects on many aspects of cell metabolism. Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase is not the exclusive target, as they affect the cell response to hypoxia, modulate several signaling pathways involved in cell death and proliferation, regulate the transcription of different genes and modify the pharmacokinetics of other drugs, by altering the expression and activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Some of these effects are related to the steroid structure of glycosides, a property which also makes them fine modulators of the synthesis of cholesterol and steroid hormones. Moreover, new endogenously synthesized glycosides have been discovered in the last years: these molecules are involved in the balance of salt and in the control of blood pressure. This review will focus on the recent studies which have demonstrated that exogenous and endogenous glycosides, besides playing a role as inotropic agents, are also important in the pathogenesis and therapy of different human diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, neurological diseases and cancer.

Geranylgeraniol prevents the cytotoxic effects of mevastatin in THP-1 cells, without decreasing the beneficial effects on cholesterol synthesis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Statins, inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, reduce the intracellular synthesis of cholesterol and prevent the onset of atherosclerosis. They also decrease the synthesis of isoprenoid molecules, such as the side chain of ubiquinone and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. As a consequence, statins impair mitochondrial metabolism and the activation of small monomeric GTPases (such as Rho and Ras), causing toxic effects. To date, a successful strategy to prevent statin toxicity is lacking. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In human monocytic THP-1 cells, we measured the synthesis of cholesterol and isoprenoids, mitochondrial electron flow, the activity of RhoA and Rac, cell death and proliferation. KEY RESULTS: Mevastatin reduced the synthesis of cholesterol, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and ubiquinone, mitochondrial electron transport, activity of RhoA and Rac, and cell proliferation, accompanied by increased cell death. Geranylgeraniol, a cell-permeable analogue of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, reversed all these effects of mevastatin, without affecting its ability to reduce cholesterol synthesis. Notably, geranylgeraniol was more effective than the addition of exogenous ubiquinone, which rescued mitochondrial respiratory activity and reversed mevastatin cytotoxicity, but did not alter the decrease in cell proliferation. The same results were obtained in human liver HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Geranylgeraniol had a broader protective effect against the cytotoxicity of statins than exogenous ubiquinone. Therefore, geranylgeraniol may be a more useful and practical means of limiting the toxicities of statins, without reducing their efficacy as cholesterol lowering agents.

Artemisinin induces doxorubicin resistance in human colon cancer cells via calcium-dependent activation of HIF-1alpha and P-glycoprotein overexpression.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug exerting pleiotropic effects, such as the inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B and of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(++)-ATPase (SERCA) of P. falciparum. As the sesquiterpene lactone thapsigargin, a known inhibitor of mammalian SERCA, enhances the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) by increasing the intracellular Ca(++) ([Ca(++)](i)) level, we investigated whether artemisinin and its structural homologue parthenolide could inhibit SERCA in human colon carcinoma HT29 cells and induce a resistance to doxorubicin. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: HT29 cells were incubated with artemisinin or parthenolide and assessed for SERCA activity, [Ca(++)](i) levels, Pgp expression, doxorubicin accumulation and toxicity, and translocation of the hypoxia-inducible factor, HIF-1alpha. KEY RESULTS: Artemisinin and parthenolide, like the specific SERCA inhibitors thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid, reduced the activity of SERCA. They also increased intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(++)](i)) and Pgp expression and decreased doxorubicin accumulation and cytotoxicity. The intracellular Ca(++) chelator, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, and the inhibitor of calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) KN93 prevented these effects. CaMKII is known to promote the phosphorylation and the activation of HIF-1alpha, which may induce Pgp. In HT29 cells, artemisinin and parthenolide induced the phosphorylation of HIF-1alpha, which was inhibited by KN93. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that artemisinin and parthenolide may act as SERCA inhibitors and, like other SERCA inhibitors, induce resistance to doxorubicin in human colon cancer cells, via the CaMKII-dependent activation of HIF-1alpha and the induction of Pgp.

Asbestos induces doxorubicin resistance in MM98 mesothelioma cells via HIF-1alpha.

Human malignant mesothelioma (HMM), which is strongly related to asbestos exposure, exhibits high resistance to many anticancer drugs. Asbestos fibre deposition in the lung may cause hypoxia and iron chelation at the fibre surface. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, which is upregulated by a decreased availability of oxygen and iron, controls the expression of membrane transporters, such as P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which actively extrude the anticancer drugs. The present study aimed to assess whether asbestos may play a role in the induction of doxorubicin resistance in HMM cells through the activation of HIF-1alpha and an increased expression of Pgp. After 24-h incubation with crocidolite asbestos or with the iron chelator dexrazoxane, or under hypoxia, HMM cells were tested for HIF-1alpha activation, Pgp expression, accumulation of doxorubicin and sensitivity to its toxic effect. Crocidolite, dexrazoxane and hypoxia caused HIF-1alpha activation, Pgp overexpression and increased resistance to doxorubicin accumulation and toxicity. These effects were prevented by the co-incubation with the cell-permeating iron salt ferric nitrilotriacetate, which caused an increase of intracellular iron bioavailability, measured as increased activity of the iron regulatory protein-1. Crocidolite, dexrazoxane and hypoxia induce doxorubicin resistance in human malignant mesothelioma cells by increasing hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha activity, through an iron-sensitive mechanism.

Insulin activates vascular endothelial growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells: influence of nitric oxide and of insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate whether insulin influences vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis and secretion in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) via nitric oxide (NO) and whether these putative effects are lost in insulin-resistant states. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In VSMC derived from human arterioles and from aortas of insulin-sensitive Zucker fa/+rats and insulin-resistant Zucker fa/fa rats incubated with different concentrations of human regular insulin with or without inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3-K), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and guanosine 3',5'cyclic monophosphate(cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG), we measured protein expression (Western blot) and secretion (ELISA) of VEGF. RESULTS: We found that in VSMCs from humans and from insulin-sensitive Zucker fa/+rats, insulin increases VEGF protein expression and secretion, with mechanisms blunted by wortmannin and LY294002 (PI3-K inhibitors), PD98059 (MAPK inhibitor), L-NMMA (NOS inhibitor) and Rp-8pCT-cGMPs (PKG inhibitor). Also the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and the cGMP analogue 8-Bromo-cGMP increase VEGF protein expression and secretion, with mechanisms inhibited by wortmannin and PD98059. The insulin effects on VEGF are impaired in VSMCs from Zucker fa/fa rats, which also present a reduced insulin ability to increase NO. CONCLUSIONS: In VSMCs from humans and insulin-sensitive Zucker fa/+rats: (i) insulin increases VEGF protein expression and secretion via both PI3-K and MAPK; (ii) the insulin effects on VEGF are mediated by nitric oxide. The insulin action on both nitric oxide and VEGF is impaired in VSMCs from Zucker fa/fa rats, an animal model of metabolic and vascular insulin-resistance.

Iron inhibits the nitric oxide synthesis elicited by asbestos in murine macrophages.

Crocidolite fibers stimulated nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and expression in glial and alveolar murine macrophages: this effect was inhibited by iron supplementation and enhanced by iron chelation. We suggest that in these cells crocidolite stimulates NOS expression by decreasing the iron bioavailability and activating an iron-sensitive transcription factor.

Human vascular smooth muscle cells express a constitutive nitric oxide synthase that insulin rapidly activates, thus increasing guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate concentrations.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Insulin incubation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMC) for 120 min increases both guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and these effects are blocked by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS). These data suggest that insulin activates a constitutive Ca2+-dependent NOS (cNOS), not described at yet in hVSMC. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated in hVSMC: i) the kinetics of the insulin-induced enhancement of the two cyclic nucleotides; ii) the ability of nitric oxide (NO) to increase both cyclic nucleotides; iii) NO involvement in the short-term influence of insulin on both cyclic nucleotides; iv) the ability of insulin to increase NO production in a few minutes; v) the presence of a cNOS activity; vi) the expression of mRNA for cNOS. METHODS: In hVSMC incubated with insulin, NO donors and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, we measured cAMP and cGMP (RIA); in hVSMC incubated with insulin and ionomycin we measured NO, evaluated as L-(3H)-citrulline production from L-(3H)-arginine; by northern blot hybridization, we measured the expression of cNOS mRNA. RESULTS: i) By incubating hVSMC with 2 nmol/l insulin for 0-240 min, we observed an increase of both cGMP and cAMP (ANOVA: p = 0.0001). Cyclic GMP rose from 0.74 +/- 0.01 to 2.62 +/- 0.10 pmol/10(6) cells at 30 min (p = 0.0001); cAMP rose from 0.9 +/- 0.09 to 11.65 +/- 0.74 pmol/10(6) cells at 15 min (p=0.0001). ii) Sodium nitroprusside (100 mol/l) and glyceryltrinitrate (100 micromol/l) increased both cGMP and cAMP (p = 0.0001). iii) The effects of insulin on cyclic nucleotides were blocked by NOS inhibition. iv) An increase of NO was observed by incubating hVSMC for 5 min with 2 nmol/l insulin (p = 0.0001). v) Ionomycin (1 micromol/l) enhanced NO production (p = 0.0001) and increased both cyclic nucleotides (p = 0.0001). vi) hVSMC expressed mRNA of cNOS. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Human VSMC express cNOS, which is rapidly activated by insulin with a consequent increase of both cGMP and cAMP, suggesting that insulin-induced vasodilation in vivo is not entirely endothelium-mediated.

NO donor and biological properties of different benzofuroxans.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of benzofusion on NO donor properties and related biological activities of the furoxan system. The biological properties considered were the ability to increase the cytosolic levels of cGMP in C6 cells and vasodilation. METHODS: NO donor properties were investigated either in the presence or the absence of cysteine by using the Griess reaction, chemiluminescence, and gas chromatography. Increase of cytosolic cGMP levels were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. Vasodilating activity was assessed on rat aorta strips precontracted with noradrenaline, in the presence and the absence of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) and methylene blue (MB), respectively. RESULTS: Benzofuroxan and its methyl and cyano derivatives were unable to release NO under the experimental conditions. Generally these compounds displayed feeble vasodilating properties and were able to weakly stimulate soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). By contrast, benzodifuroxan and benzotrifuroxan were able to produce both NO* and its reduced form NO- , the nitroxyl anion. They displayed potent vasodilating properties and were able to increase cytosolic levels of cGMP in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The simple benzofuroxans considered here are devoid of the capability to release NO, they weakly stimulate sGC as well as manifest feeble vasodilating properties by a mechanism that does not involve a thiol-induced NO production. By contrast, benzodifuroxan and benzotrifuroxan behave as typical NO donor furoxans.

Retinoic acid-induced differentiation in a human neuroblastoma cell line is associated with an increase in nitric oxide synthesis.

The human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE, after incubation with 10 microM retinoic acid (RA) or 20 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), underwent biochemical and morphological signs of differentiation within 10-14 days. In parallel, SK-N-BE cells produced significantly higher amounts of nitric oxide (NO) in comparison with controls, as assessed by the measurement of nitrite and nitrate in the culture supernatant and of NO synthase (NOS) activity in the cell lysates (measured as ability to convert [3H]arginine into [3H]citrulline and as NADPH diaphorase activity). Nitrite/nitrate production was abolished by adding the NO scavenger hemoglobin in the culture medium and was inhibited by aminoguanidine (AG, a selective inhibitor of the inducible NOS isoform) but not by the less selective inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (NAME). Western blotting experiments with monoclonal antibodies against the ncNOS and iNOS isoforms suggest that RA-elicited NOS activation is not attributable to an increased expression of the protein. NAME and AG were not able to revert inhibition of proliferation induced by RA, and the NO donor sodium nitroprusside did not mimic the effect of RA and PMA. These data indicate that increased NO synthesis does not mediate RA- or PMA-induced differentiation but may be an additional marker of differentiation into sympathetic-like neuronal cells.

Insulin stimulates nitric oxide synthesis in human platelets and, through nitric oxide, increases platelet concentrations of both guanosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate and adenosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate.

The insulin-induced platelet anti-aggregating effect is attributed to a nitric oxide (NO)-mediated increase of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The aim of this work, carried out in human platelets, is to show whether insulin increases NO synthesis in platelets and whether it enhances not only cGMP but also cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in these cells. We observed that 1) insulin dose-dependently increases NO production, evaluated as citrulline synthesis from L-arginine (n = 4, P = 0.015); 2) insulin dose-dependently increases not only cGMP but also cAMP: for instance, after 8 min of insulin incubation at 1,920 pmol/l, cAMP increased from 39.8 +/- 1.4 to 121.3 +/- 12.6 pmol/10(9) platelets (n = 16, P = 0.0001); 3) when insulin is incubated for 120 min, the increase of cGMP and cAMP shows a plateau between 2 and 20 min, and while the effect on cGMP is significant until 120 min, the effect on cAMP is no more significant at 60 and 120 min; 4) insulin increases the effects on cAMP of the adenylate cyclase agonists Iloprost and forskolin (n = 5, P = 0.0001) and enhances their platelet anti-aggregating effects (n = 6 and 8, respectively; P = 0.0001); and 5) the inhibition of NO synthase by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine blunts both the insulin effects on basal cGMP and cAMP (n = 4) and those on the Iloprost- and forskolin-induced cAMP increase (n = 5). Thus, insulin increases NO synthesis in human platelets, and, through NO, enhances both cGMP and cAMP. The platelet anti-aggregating effect exerted by insulin is, therefore, a NO-mediated phenomenon involving both cGMP and cAMP.

Reversal of doxorubicin resistance by the amiloride analogue EIPA in multidrug resistant human colon carcinoma cells.

Although multidrug resistance (mdr) may arise through a variety of mechanisms, the most widely studied and accepted form is associated with an increased concentration of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a 170 kd protein found in the membrane fraction of a number of mammalian cells. Since mdr seems to be related to the ability of resistant cells to extrude drugs and the circumvention of mdr is supposed to be due to the restored ability to accumulate drugs, membrane has been regarded as the crucial site for such a regulation and an important role for membrane ion exchangers has been suggested. The aim of this work was to elucidate whether the Na+/H+ antiporter is involved in the mechanism of regulation and circumvention of mdr and if 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride (EIPA), a selective inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger, can modulate the functional expression of the mdr phenotype. The effect of EIPA on doxorubicin (DX) resistant cells (LoVo/DX) obtained from a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LoVo) was studied. EIPA at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 mu M was able to increase the antibiotic cytotoxicity in the resistant Lovo/DX cells. The reversal of DX resistance paralleled an increase of the ability of the cells to accumulate the drug. Both drug loading and sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of DX on cell proliferation were restored by EIPA in a dose-dependent way. These results suggest a new mechanism of mdr reversal and indicate that amiloride and its derivatives may be useful in reversing DX resistance and in enhancing the clinical effectiveness of chemotherapeutics.

Regulation of nitric oxide synthesis in uraemia.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a cell-to-cell mediator involved in the regulation of vascular tone and in the mechanisms of host defence. Since uraemic syndrome is characterized by abnormalities in blood pressure and flow and by impairment of white cell function, we studied the regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity by uraemic plasma. We used three different cellular types having different levels of NOS activity: tEnd.1 murine endothelial cell line transformed by mT oncogene of polyomavirus had a high NOS activity and expressed endothelial-NOS (eNOS) and inducible-NOS (iNOS) isoforms; human endothelial cells from cord umbilical vein (HUVEC) had low enzymatic activity and expressed only eNOS; finally, J774 murine macrophage line was characterised by iNOS induced after treatment with cytokines. We demonstrated that most (79%) of end-stage uraemic plasma studied inhibited NOS activity in tEnd.1 and in cytokine induced -J774, whereas they were ineffective on HUVEC. Twenty percent of plasma samples (14 of 67) activated NOS activity in tEnd.1 and in J774 cells, but not in HUVEC, suggesting the presence of molecule(s) which influence iNOS. The effect of plasma was not dependent on the type of haemodialysis treatment. A great number of plasmas from patients with moderate renal failure also inhibited NOS activity in tEnd.1, suggesting that the accumulation of molecules affecting NOS was caused by the renal failure rather than the haemodialytic treatment. However, the haemodialysis modified the effect of plasmas on NOS activity. Plasma taken after haemodialysis session showed a reduced inhibitory activity in tEnd.1 and in some cases it enhanced NOS activity. Simultaneously, molecules reducing NOS activity accumulated in the ultrafiltrate. The plasma concentration of NG-NG dimethyl-L-arginine (asymmetrical dimethylarginine, ADMA), an inhibitor of NOS, increased in end-stage uraemic patients and was reduced by haemodialysis. However, the concentrations reached in uraemic plasmas were lower than the ADMA IC50 on tEnd.1 NOS, indicating that this compound contributes with other molecules to the inhibitory effect of uraemic plasma. Haemodialysis reduced also the enhanced effect exerted by some plasmas on NOS in J774. Therefore, the effect of end-stage uraemic plasma on NOS activity derive from the balance between inhibitors and activators.

Middle T antigen-transformed endothelial cells exhibit an increased activity of nitric oxide synthase.

Endothelioma cell lines transformed by polyoma virus middle T antigen (mTa) cause cavernous hemangiomas in syngeneic mice by recruitment of host cells. The production of nitric oxide (NO), as measured by nitrite and citrulline production, was significantly higher in mTa-transformed endothelial cells in comparison with nontransformed control cells. The maximal activity of NO synthase (NOS) was about 200-fold higher in cell lysates from the tEnd.1 endothelioma cell line than in lysates from nontransformed controls, whereas the affinity for arginine did not differ. The biochemical characterization of NOS and the study of mRNA transcripts indicate that tEnd.1 cells express both the inducible and the constitutive isoforms. NOS hyperactivity is not a simple consequence of cell transformation but needs a tissue-specific mTa expression. Since tEnd.1-conditioned medium induces NOS activity in normal endothelial cells, most likely NOS hyperactivity in endothelioma cells is attributable to the release of a soluble factor. This NOS-activating factor, which seems to be an anionic protein, could stimulate tEnd.1 cells to express NOS by an autocrine way. By the same mechanism, tEnd.1 cells could induce NOS in the neighboring endothelial cells, and NO release could play a role in the hemangioma development. Such hypothesis is confirmed by our in vivo experiments, showing that the administration of the NOS inhibitor L-canavanine to endothelioma-bearing mice significantly reduced both the volume and the relapse time of the tumor.

Involvement of a serine protease in the synthesis of platelet-activating factor by endothelial cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1 alpha.

It has been shown that production of platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) by endothelial cells (EC) stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 alpha requires the synthesis of new proteins and is regulated by anti-proteinases. Here, we demonstrate that TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha induce the expression by EC of a 34-kDa diisopropyl fluorophosphate-binding protein immunoprecipitated by an anti-human elastase antibody. This protein is released in the medium and cleaves the chromogenic substrate N-methoxysuccinyl- Ala-Ala-Pro-Val p-anilide, which is specific for elastase. The generation of this elastase-like protein seems to be important for the synthesis of PAF induced by TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha, as suggested by the following observations: (a) it precedes the synthesis of PAF; (b) the inhibitors of serine protease and anti-human elastase antibody prevent the synthesis of PAF and the activation of 1-O-alkyl-2-lyso-glycerophosphocholine acetyl-CoA: acetyltransferase, which is a key enzyme of the PAF remodelling pathway; (c) elastase, at concentrations similar to that detectable in the medium of cytokine-activated EC, elicits a rapid synthesis of PAF by EC. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric analysis of bioactive PAF demonstrates that the molecular species produced after stimulation of EC with TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha or elastase are similar, with a predominant synthesis of the alkyl species. These results indicate that TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha stimulate the production of a serine protease which is critical in the activation of enzymes involved in PAF synthesis, suggesting the potential involvement of this mechanism in the regulation of EC functions.

Oncostatin M activates phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase in Kaposi's sarcoma cells.

Oncostatin M (OM) is a polypeptide cytokine that induces autocrine and paracrine effects on AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cells (Nair et al., Science, 255, 1430-1432, 1992; Miles et al., Science, 255, 1432-1434, 1992). The signalling pathways underlying this activation are largely unknown. We have found that OM binding to KS cell lines in vitro identifies a higher affinity binding site (Kd 10-20 pM) with a lower affinity (Kd 1.5 nM), high capacity binding site. The binding of OM to its receptor at the KS cell surface stimulates a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins, including the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). In addition OM can stimulate the in vivo activation of PI3K and increases the PI3K activity in anti-phosphotyrosine and anti-src kinase family antibody directed immunoprecipitates. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, inhibits the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-biphosphate and the growth of KS cells. Finally, OM enhances tyrosine kinase activity in immune complex kinase assay performed with antibody anti-src kinase family. These data suggest that in KS cells OM can stimulate formation of tyrosine kinase co-ordinate signalling complexes, containing at least src kinase family and PI3K, which can drive the accumulation of the putative second-messengers D3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides.

Platelet activation and inhibition of malarial cytoadherence by the anti-CD36 IgM monoclonal antibody NL07.

The surface glycoprotein CD36 (GPIV) is known to mediate the adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum malaria-infected red blood cells and to be a receptor for extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and thrombospondin. The murine monoclonal IgM antibody NL07, which is specific for CD36, has now been shown to also be a potent inhibitor of the adhesion of P falciparum malaria-infected red blood cells to C32 melanoma cells. Treatment of platelets with NL07 monoclonal antibody resulted in rapid degranulation, release of ATP and serotonin, increase in [Ca2+]i, and tyrosine phosphorylation of a substrate protein of 130 kD. In about one-half of the experiments, activation with NL07 resulted in the formation of small aggregates of 10 to 30 platelets, whereas in the other half of the experiments, large aggregates were seen similar to those induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and these large aggregates could be converted to the small aggregates by ATP alpha S or by AP-2 or other antibodies against GPIIb and/or IIIa. Microaggregates of 2 to 5 platelets were seen with Glanzmann's platelets that constitutively lack GPIIb/IIIa. Aggregate formation was not seen with heat-treated serum, in the presence of anti C1q antibodies, or when using C5-, C8-, or C9-deficient human sera. Although activation of platelets with purified complement components results in a slow morphologic change without aggregation, involvement of CD36 results in rapid complement-mediated activation leading to formation of small aggregates that is largely independent of GPIIb/IIIa and that, under certain circumstances, proceeds to the formation of large ADP-dependent aggregates.

Nitric oxide synthesis is impaired in glutathione-depleted human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Human endothelial cells cultured from umbilical vein (HUVEC) were tested for their ability to synthesize nitric oxide (NO), which has been identified as an endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The synthesis of this free radical (detected as citrulline, which is produced stoichiometrically with NO from arginine) in HUVEC is Ca2+ dependent, is increased sevenfold by the calcium ionophore ionomycin, and accounts for most basal and ionomycin-induced guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) production. Loading of cells with reduced glutathione (GSH), but not with N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)- glycine (MPG), led to increased citrulline production, both basally and after ionomycin stimulation. When the cells were depleted of GSH by incubation with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), citrulline synthesis and cGMP production were inhibited in a concentration-dependent way. CDNB was not cytotoxic and did not inhibit cGMP increase elicited by sodium nitroprusside; cell loading with GSH (but not with MPG) relieved the block of citrulline synthesis. These results suggest that GSH is necessary in HUVEC for NO synthesis rather than for the NO effect on guanylate cyclase.

Protein kinase C activation in murine endothelioma cell lines containing middle T antigen stimulated by platelet-activating factor.

Murine endothelial cell lines containing middle T antigen provide a good model to study the biology of capillary cells of different anatomical districts. These cell lines obtained from skin (sEnd.1), brain (bEnd.4), thymus (tEnd-1) and embryo tissue (eEnd.1) are activated by platelet-activating factor (PAF). PAF, but not lyso-PAF or the enantiomer (S)-PAF, induces the rapid translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) from the cytosol to the membrane. Maximal translocation of the enzyme is achieved after 5 min in all cell lines tested. The ED50 of PAF able to promote PKC translocation has a value of 5 nM in sEnd.1, bEnd.4 and eEnd.1, and 20 nM in tEnd.1, suggesting a different sensitivity between these cell lines. The data indicate that PAF activates capillary cells, thus explaining its activation of microvascular beds.