1-Methylnicotinamide protects against liver injury induced by concanavalin A via a prostacyclin-dependent mechanism: A possible involvement of IL-4 and TNF-α.

We have recently demonstrated that concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis is associated with the release of endogenous 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA). Here we study the mechanism by which exogenous MNA alleviates Con A-induced liver inflammation and injury in vivo. The involvement of prostacyclin (PGI2) in hepatoprotective action of MNA (30-100 mg kg(-1); i.v.) was studied by the use of IP receptor antagonist RO3244794 (10 mg kg(-1); p.o.) given prior to Con A (5-20 mg kg(-1); i.v.). Liver damage was assessed by measurements of: liver specific transaminases in plasma (alanine aminotransferase; aspartate aminotransferase); cytokines release (IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α); liver histopathology; and 24h survival rates. Additionally, the effect of a stable analog of prostacyclin (carbaprostacyclin) on IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α production by isolated spleen lymphocytes in response to Con A was analyzed. MNA diminished Con A-induced rise in liver specific transaminases, alleviated histopathological injury and improved 24h survival rates, the latter effect in a degree comparable with the pretreatment of animals with dexamethasone (0.5 mg kg(-1); i.p.). MNA inhibited also a rise in IL-4 and TNF-α concentration in plasma measured 2 h after Con A administration, while IFN-γ was less affected. The effects of MNA were reversed by pretreatment with IP antagonist RO3244794. In isolated spleen lymphocytes, carbaprostacyclin profoundly decreased production of IL-4, the effect on TNF-α was modest with no effect on IFN-γ production. In conclusion, MNA attenuated Con A-induced hepatitis by a prostacyclin-dependent mechanism involving the inhibition of lymphocytes-derived IL-4 and the inhibition of Kuppfer-cells derived TNF-α.

Beraprost sodium, a stable prostacyclin analogue, elicits dilation of isolated porcine retinal arterioles: roles of eNOS and potassium channels.

PURPOSE: Prostacyclin (PGI2) is usually described as an endoEDRFsthelium-derived relaxing factor, but the vasoreactivity to PGI2 in the retinal arterioles and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We examined the effects of PGI2 on the retinal microcirculation using beraprost sodium (BPS), a stable PGI2 analogue, and the signaling mechanisms involved in this vasomotor activity. METHODS: Porcine retinal arterioles were isolated, cannulated, and pressurized without flow in vitro. Video microscopic techniques recorded the diametric responses to BPS. RESULTS: Beraprost sodium elicited dose-dependent (0.1 pM-0.1 µM) vasodilation of the retinal arterioles that was abolished by the PGI2 receptor (IP) antagonist CAY10441. Beraprost sodium-induced vasodilation decreased by 50% after the endothelium was removed and was inhibited by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) comparable with denudation. Inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase by 1H-1,2,4-oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and blockage of protein kinase A (PKA) by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS were comparable to L-NAME. Beraprost sodium-induced vasodilation was also inhibited by the nonselective potassium channel inhibitor, tetraethylammonium, and the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide. Residual vasodilation in the presence of glibenclamide decreased further with subsequent application of ODQ. CONCLUSIONS: Beraprost sodium, a stable PGI2 analogue, causes vasodilation of the retinal arterioles mediated via the IP receptor. The current findings suggest that BPS elicits endothelium-dependent and -independent dilation of the retinal arterioles mediated by NO induced by activation of PKA in the endothelium and the KATP channel activation in the vascular smooth muscle, respectively.

Existing drugs and agents under investigation for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive and debilitating disorder with an associated high morbidity and mortality rate. Significant advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension have occurred over the past several decades. This has allowed the development of new therapeutic options in this disease. Today, our selection of therapeutic modalities is broader, including calcium channel blockers, prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, but the disease remains fatal. This underscores the need for a continued search for novel therapies. Several potential pharmacologic agents for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension are under clinical development and some promising results with these treatments have been reported. These agents include rho-kinase inhibitors, long-acting nonprostanoid prostacyclin receptor agonists, tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors, endothelial nitric oxide synthase couplers, synthetically produced vasoactive intestinal peptide, antagonists of the 5-HT2 receptors, and others. This article will review several of these promising new therapies and will discuss the current evidence regarding their potential benefit in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The COX-2/PGI2 receptor axis plays an obligatory role in mediating the cardioprotection conferred by the late phase of ischemic preconditioning.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacologic studies with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors suggest that the late phase of ischemic preconditioning (PC) is mediated by COX-2. However, nonspecific effects of COX-2 inhibitors cannot be ruled out, and the selectivity of these inhibitors for COX-2 vs. COX-1 is only relative. Furthermore, the specific prostaglandin (PG) receptors responsible for the salubrious actions of COX-2-derived prostanoids remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of COX-2 and prostacyclin receptor (IP) in late PC by gene deletion. METHODS: COX-2 knockout (KO) mice (COX-2(-/-)), prostacyclin receptor KO (IP(-/-)) mice, and respective wildtype (WT, COX-2(+/+) and IP(+/+)) mice underwent sham surgery or PC with six 4-min coronary occlusion (O)/4-min R cycles 24 h before a 30-min O/24 h R. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in infarct size (IS) between non-preconditioned (non-PC) COX-2(+/+), COX-2(-/-), IP(+/+), and IP(-/-) mice, indicating that neither COX-2 nor IP modulates IS in the absence of PC. When COX-2(-/-) or IP(-/-) mice were preconditioned, IS was not reduced, indicating that the protection of late PC was completely abrogated by deletion of either the COX-2 or the IP gene. Administration of the IP selective antagonist, RO3244794 to C57BL6/J (B6) mice 30 min prior to the 30-min O had no effect on IS. When B6 mice were preconditioned 24 h prior to the 30-min O, IS was markedly reduced; however, the protection of late PC was completely abrogated by pretreatment of RO3244794. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that targeted disruption of the COX-2 gene completely abrogates the infarct-sparing effect of late PC, and that the IP, downstream of the COX-2/prostanoid pathway, is a key mediator of the late PC. These results provide unequivocal molecular genetic evidence for an essential role of the COX-2/PGI2 receptor axis in the cardioprotection afforded by the late PC.

Prostacyclin receptor in tumor endothelial cells promotes angiogenesis in an autocrine manner.

Molecules highly expressed in tumor endothelial cells (TEC) are important for specific targeting of these cells. Previously, using DNA microarray analysis, we found that the prostacyclin receptor (IP receptor) gene was upregulated in TEC compared with normal endothelial cells (NEC). Although prostacyclin is implicated in re-endothelialization and angiogenesis, its role remains largely unknown in TEC. Moreover, the effect of the IP receptor on TEC has not been reported. In the present study we investigated the function of the IP receptor in TEC. The TEC were isolated from two types of human tumor xenografts in nude mice, while NEC were isolated from normal counterparts. Prostacyclin secretion levels in TEC were significantly higher than those in NEC, as shown using ELISA. Real-time RT-PCR showed that the IP receptor was upregulated in TEC compared with NEC. Furthermore, migration and tube formation of TEC were suppressed by the IP receptor antagonist RO1138452. Immunohistostaining showed that the IP receptor was specifically expressed in blood vessels of renal cell carcinoma specimens, but not in glomerular vessels of normal renal tissue. These findings suggest that the IP receptor is a TEC-specific marker and might be a useful therapeutic target.

Inhibitory effect of schisandrin on spontaneous contraction of isolated rat colon.

This study examined the effect of schisandrin, one of the major lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis, on spontaneous contraction in rat colon and its possible mechanisms. Schisandrin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition (EC50=1.66 µM) on the colonic spontaneous contraction. The relaxant effect of schisandrin could be abolished by the neuronal Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 µM) but not affected by propranolol (1 µM), phentolamine (1 µM), atropine (1 µM) or nicotine desensitization, suggesting possible involvement of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters released from enteric nerves. N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100-300 µM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated the schisandrin response. The role of nitric oxide (NO) was confirmed by an increase in colonic NO production after schisandrin incubation, and the inhibition on the schisandrin responses by soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo[4,3-α]-quinoxalin-1-one (1-30 µM). Non-nitrergic NANC components may also be involved in the action of schisandrin, as suggested by the significant inhibition of apamin on the schisandrin-induced responses. Pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo(benzene-2,4-disulfonic acid) tetrasodium salt hydrate (100 µM), a selective P2 purinoceptor antagonist, markedly attenuated the responses to schisandrin. In contrast, neither 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an antagonist for adenosine A1 receptors, nor chymotrypsin, a serine endopeptidase, affected the responses. All available results have demonstrated that schisandrin produced NANC relaxation on the rat colon, with the involvement of NO and acting via cGMP-dependent pathways. ATP, but not adenosine and VIP, likely plays a role in the non-nitrergic, apamin-sensitive component of the response.

Selective prostacyclin receptor agonism augments glucocorticoid-induced gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Prostacyclin receptor (IP-receptor) agonists display anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity in cell-based assays and in preclinical models of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this study, we have extended these observations by demonstrating that IP-receptor activation also can enhance the ability of glucocorticoids to induce genes with anti-inflammatory activity. BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells stably transfected with a glucocorticoid response element (GRE) luciferase reporter were activated in a concentration-dependent manner by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. An IP-receptor agonist, taprostene, increased cAMP in these cells and augmented luciferase expression at all concentrations of dexamethasone examined. Analysis of the concentration-response relationship that described this effect showed that taprostene increased the magnitude of transcription without affecting the potency of dexamethasone and was, thus, steroid-sparing in this simple system. RO3244794, an IP-receptor antagonist, and oligonucleotides that selectively silenced the IP-receptor gene, PTGIR, abolished these effects of taprostene. Infection of BEAS-2B GRE reporter cells with an adenovirus vector encoding a highly selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) also prevented taprostene from enhancing GRE-dependent transcription. In BEAS-2B cells and primary cultures of human airway epithelial cells, taprostene and dexamethasone interacted either additively or cooperatively in the expression of three glucocorticoid-inducible genes (GILZ, MKP-1, and p57(kip2)) that have anti-inflammatory potential. Collectively, these data show that IP-receptor agonists can augment the ability of glucocorticoids to induce anti-inflammatory genes in human airway epithelial cells by activating a cAMP/PKA-dependent mechanism. This observation may have clinical relevance in the treatment of airway inflammatory diseases that are either refractory or respond suboptimally to glucocorticoids.

ONO-54918-07, a stable prostacyclin analogue, mimics the effect of prostaglandin PGE1 on NG108-15 cells.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of 0NO-54918-07, a stable prostacyclin analogue, on the current-voltage (IV) curve and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i of NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells. The IV curve was measured with ramp pulses from -70 to 0 mV, and [Ca2+]i was determined with Fura 2. Bath application of 0.2 muM ONO-54918-07 reversibly increased the holding current at -70 mV by -81.1 +/- 14.8 pA (mean +/- SEM, n = 35) and the slope of the IV curve between -70 and -50 mV by the factor 2.24 +/- 0.24. The effect of 0.2 microM prostaglandin PGE1 was similar (DeltaI (hold) = -96.1 +/- 29.9 pA, g/g (control) = 2.72 +/- 0.44, n = 9). ONO-54918-07 concentrations of 0.04, 2 and 6 microM were also effective. From the dose-response curve, the concentration for the half maximal effect was obtained as 0.054 microM. When cells did not respond to ONO-54918-07, an effect could sometimes be elicited by a ramp pulse or by a second ONO-54918-07 application 30-50 min after the first. The effect of ONO-54918-07 was not affected by pre-treatment with the EP1 antagonists ONO-8713 or SC-51089. However, a 14-40 min pre-treatment with 1 microM RO3244794, a selective prostacyclin receptor (IP) antagonist, abolished the effect of 0.2 microM PGE1. The effect of 0.2 microM ONO-54918-07 vanished completely in the presence of 5 microM RO32446794. ONO-54918-07 and PGE1 produced a slow increase in [Ca2+]i that lasted at least 6 min. Delta[Ca2+]i induced by both substances reached approximately 12% of the peak Delta[Ca2+]i induced by application of bradykinin. In only a few cells, PGE1 produced a brief, transient rise of [Ca2+]i. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, a prominent expression of the IP was detected in NG108-15 cells. It is concluded that ONO-54918-07 mimics the effect of PGE1, supporting the notion that the PGE1 effect on NG108-15 cells is mediated by IP receptors.

The role of the prostacyclin receptor antagonist RO3244019 in treating neurogenic detrusor overactivity after spinal cord injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the prostacyclin receptor (IP) antagonist RO3244019 on neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in spinal cord-injured (SCI) neurogenic bladder of the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats with SCI were divided into four treatment groups of eight each: vehicle (200 mm Tris base), indomethacin (3 mg/kg), RO3244019 (at 1 and 5 mg/kg). The conscious rats were assessed by cystometry, by slowly infusing the bladder with physiological normal saline at 0.04 mL/min. After 1 h of cystometry one of the four compounds was administered intravenously to the rats and changes in cystometrogram tracings recorded. Seven voiding variables were calculated before and after administering each compound: the intercontractile interval (ICI) for all contractions, voiding ICI, amplitude of all contractions, amplitude of voiding contractions, time to first void (TFV), voided volumes (VVs), and first VV. Data were analysed using a paired t-test for each of the experiments. RESULTS: At 1 mg/kg, the RO compound was associated with a statistically significant difference in the voiding ICI and VVs (both P < 0.05). The mean (sd) voiding ICI increased from 621 (140) to 889 (119) s (43% increase) and the VVs from 0.53 (0.13) to 0.72 (0.09) mL (36% increase). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the TFV or the first VVs. Increasing the dose to 5 mg/kg was more effective in improving the voiding ICI and the VVs (both P < 0.01). The voiding ICI increased from 716 (130) to 1346 (159) s (88% increase) and the VVs from 0.60 (0.11) to 1.05 (0.12) mL (75% increase). In addition, the higher dose had a statistically significant difference in the TFV (P < 0.05). There was more than a four-fold increase in the TFV, from 807 (138) to 3239 (883) s. At 5 mg/kg, the difference in the first VV before and after administering the compound was also almost statistically significant (P = 0.057); the first VV increased from 0.56 (0.14) to 1.01 (0.21) mL. There were no statistically significant differences in the amplitude of contractions or the ICI for all contractions for either of the dosages. Indomethacin at 3 mg/kg was the most effective compound for improving all of the voiding variables and was the only one to show a significant difference in the first VV. However, the IP antagonist at 5 mg/kg was almost as effective as indomethacin when comparing other variables, e.g. the voiding ICI and the VV. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the seven voiding variables before and after administering the vehicle. CONCLUSION: The IP antagonist RO3244019 was effective in treating NDO in SCI bladders. While RO3244019 at 1 mg/kg significantly increased the voiding ICI and VVs, 5 mg/kg appeared to be more effective, suggesting a dose-dependent effect of the drug. The RO compound at 5 mg/kg was almost as effective as indomethacin in improving all of the voiding variables.

Investigation of the prostacyclin (IP) receptor antagonist RO1138452 on isolated blood vessel and platelet preparations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The current study examined the utility of the recently described prostacyclin (prostanoid IP) receptor antagonist RO1138452 (2-(4-(4-isopropoxybenzyl)-phenylamino) imidazoline) as a tool for classifying prostanoid receptors. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: pA(2) values were determined on isolated smooth muscle and platelet preparations. KEY RESULTS: RO1138452 antagonized relaxation of human pulmonary artery, guinea-pig aorta and rabbit mesenteric artery induced by the selective IP agonist cicaprost. Schild plots had slopes close to unity, generating pA(2) values of 8.20, 8.39 and 8.12 respectively. Non-surmountable antagonism was sometimes found with the higher concentrations of RO1138452, attributable to the EP(3) contractile action of cicaprost. RO1138452 did not block relaxation of guinea-pig trachea induced by the EP(2)-selective agonist butaprost. In contrast, there was a modest inhibition of butaprost-induced relaxation of human pulmonary artery by RO1138452, implying activation of both EP(2) and IP receptors by butaprost. RO1138452 did not affect relaxation induced by PGE(2) (EP(4) agonist) and substance P (NK(1)/endothelium-dependent agonist) in rabbit mesenteric artery. In human and rat platelet-rich plasmas, RO1138452 antagonized cicaprost-induced inhibition of platelet aggregation in a surmountable manner; pA(2) values may have been affected by binding of RO1138452 to plasma protein. RO1138452 did not affect the inhibitory actions of PGD(2) (DP(1) agonist) and NECA (adenosine A(2A) agonist) in human platelets. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The data indicate that RO1138452 is a potent and selective IP receptor antagonist. RO1138452 represents an important addition to our armoury of prostanoid receptor antagonists and a potential clinical agent in situations where prostacyclin has a pathophysiological function.

RO1138452 and RO3244794: characterization of structurally distinct, potent and selective IP (prostacyclin) receptor antagonists.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) possesses various physiological functions, including modulation of nociception, inflammation and cardiovascular activity. Elucidation of these functions has been hampered by the absence of selective IP receptor antagonists. Two structurally distinct series of IP receptor antagonists have been developed: 4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-[4-(4-isopropoxy-benzyl)-phenyl]-amine (RO1138452) and R-3-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-2-[5-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-benzofuran-2-ylmethoxycarbonylamino]-propionic acid (RO3244794).RO1138452 and RO3244794 display high affinity for IP receptors. In human platelets, the receptor affinities (pKi) were 9.3 +/- 0.1 and 7.7 +/- 0.03, respectively; in a recombinant IP receptor system, pKi values were 8.7 +/- 0.06 and 6.9 +/- 0.1, respectively. Functional antagonism of RO1138452 and RO3244794 was studied by measuring inhibition of carbaprostacyclin-induced cAMP accumulation in CHO-K1 cells stably expressing the human IP receptor. The antagonist affinities (pKi) of RO1138452 and RO3244794 were 9.0 +/- 0.06 and 8.5 +/- 0.11, respectively. Selectivity profiles for RO1138452 and RO3244794 were determined via a panel of receptor binding and enzyme assays. RO1138452 displayed affinity at I2 (8.3) and PAF (7.9) receptors, while RO3244794 was highly selective for the IP receptor: pKi values for EP1 (< 5), EP3 (5.38), EP4 (5.74) and TP (5.09). RO1138452 (1-10 mg kg(-1), i.v.) and RO3244794 (1-30 mg kg(-1), i.v.) significantly reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions. RO1138452 (3-100 mg kg(-1), p.o.) and RO3244794 (0.3-30 mg kg(-1), p.o.) significantly reduced carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia and edema formation. RO3244794 (1 and 10 mg kg(-1), p.o.) also significantly reduced chronic joint discomfort induced by monoiodoacetate. These data suggest that RO1138452 and RO3244794 are potent and selective antagonists for both human and rat IP receptors and that they possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential.

A prostacyclin receptor antagonist inhibits the sensitized release of substance P from rat sensory neurons.

Prostacyclin, one of the cyclooxygenase metabolites, causes various biological effects, including vasodilation and antithrombogenicity, and is also involved in several pathophysiological effects, such as inflammatory pain and bladder disorders. The prostacyclin receptor (IP receptor) agonists iloprost, cicaprost, and carbacyclin have been useful for clarifying the role of the IP receptor signaling, since the endogenous ligand, prostacyclin, is very unstable. On the other hand, only a few IP receptor antagonists have been reported to date. Here, we characterized the biological activities of 2-[4-(1H-indol-4-yloxymethyl)-benzyloxycarbonylamino]-3-phenyl-propionic acid (compound A) in various in vitro systems. Compound A inhibited the accumulation of the second messenger cyclic AMP in the UMR-108 rat osteosarcoma cell line and primary cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in a concentration-dependent manner up to 10 microM, without affecting other eicosanoid receptors. Functionally, the IP receptor plays an important role in DRG neuron sensitization, which is measured by release of the neurotransmitter substance P. Although the effects of iloprost or Lys-bradykinin, an inflammatory peptide, alone on substance P release were limited, stimulation of the neurons with both these ligands induced substantial amounts of substance P release. This synergistic effect was suppressed by compound A. Collectively, these results suggest that compound A is a highly selective IP receptor antagonist that inhibits iloprost-induced sensitization of sensory neurons. Furthermore, these findings suggest that IP receptor antagonist administration may be effective for abnormal neural activities of unmyelinated sensory afferents. Compound A should prove useful for further investigations of the IP receptor in various biological processes.

Identification of glutathione-derived metabolites from an IP receptor antagonist.

The metabolic fate of three aromatic carboxylic acid analogs under evaluation as prostaglandin I2-preferring receptor antagonists was studied. The initial analog with unsubstituted phenyl groups was subject to a complex set of aromatic oxidative biotransformations. By introduction of one or two fluorines, these pathways were inhibited. All three analogs were metabolized to a wide variety of carboxylic acid conjugates. Among these were several conjugates formed via secondary metabolism and oxidation of acyl glutathione intermediates. Two of the structure classes, represented by the S-methyl-N-cysteinylglycine conjugate and the N-cysteinylglycine disulfide conjugates, have been described only rarely in the literature. The related S-oxide of the S-methyl-N-cysteinylglycine conjugate and the N,S-bis-acyl derivative of cysteinylglycine are here described for the first time as conjugate metabolites of carboxylic drugs.

Protein kinase A-dependent coupling of mouse prostacyclin receptors to Gi is cell-type dependent.

The ability of the prostacyclin (IP) receptor agonist cicaprost to activate Gs-, Gq/11- and Gi-mediated cell signalling pathways has been examined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells expressing the cloned human (hIP) or mouse (mIP) prostacyclin receptor, and compared with data from NG108-15 and SK-N-SH cells that endogenously express rat/mouse and human IP receptors, respectively. Cicaprost stimulated [3H]cyclic AMP production with EC50 values of 1.5-22 nM, and stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate production (EC50 values 49-457 nM) in all but the SK-N-SH cells. Cicaprost failed to inhibit forskolin-stimulated [3H]cyclic AMP production in any of these cell lines. Therefore, although both human and mouse IP receptors couple to Gs and Gq/11-mediated signalling pathways in a cell type-dependent manner, we could find no evidence for IP receptor coupling to Gi.