Streptococcal cell wall arthritis. Passive transfer of disease with a T cell line and crossreactivity of streptococcal cell wall antigens with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Primary lymph node cells derived from streptococcal cell wall arthritic rats or those derived from adjuvant arthritic rats proliferated in response to cell wall antigens derived from either streptococcal cell walls or those from M. tuberculosis. In addition, two T cell lines have been isolated from lymph nodes of rats during the chronic phase of streptococcal cell wall arthritis. These T cell lines transfered clinical disease to naive syngeneic irradiated recipients, and they proliferated in the presence of cell wall antigens derived from streptococci or antigens derived from Mycobacterium but failed to proliferate in the presence of the 65-kD antigen (containing the sequence TFGLQLELT) derived from Mycobacterium. These observations indicate that T cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of streptococcal cell wall arthritis and suggest that antigenic crossreactivity exists between cell walls of group A streptococci and antigens derived from Mycobacterium. The 65-kD Mycobacterium protein is not involved in the observed antigenic crossreactivity.

Synergy between adjuvant arthritis and collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats is susceptible to cell-mediated passive transfer. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats is susceptible to passive transfer with antibody to type II collagen. We report here the development of strikingly severe arthritis in Lewis rats as the result of synergy between passively transferred antibody to type II collagen from rats with CIA and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated lymph node or spleen cells from syngeneic rats with AA. Similar synergy was seen in rats with AA given anticollagen antibody, in rats with CIA given Con A-stimulated adjuvant spleen cells, and in rats actively immunized with CII and complete Freund's adjuvant. The synergistic process caused a very severe polyarthritis, characterized by marked swelling and erythema in all the joints of the distal extremities, with histologic and radiographic evidence of early, extensive erosion of articular cartilage. Synergy was apparent if the lymphoid cells from AA rats were given up to 1 mo after a single injection of anticollagen antibody. No synergy was seen when normal rat immunoglobulin or anti-ovalbumin antibody was substituted for anticollagen antibody, when Con A-stimulated lymphoid cells from normal rats or donors with CIA were used, or when Con A-stimulated AA lymphoid cells were irradiated before transfer. Synergy between separate immune effector mechanisms may represent a general phenomenon in the pathogenesis of inflammatory joint disease.

Administration of group A streptococcal cell walls to rats induces an interleukin 2 deficiency.

Intraperitoneal administration of group A streptococcal cell walls to Lewis rats induces a chronic arthritis, whereas the Fischer strain is resistant to the development of the lesion. Spleen cells from cell wall-treated rats (Lewis and Fischer) are deficient in the synthesis of IL-2. Using an mAb directed against the rat IL-2-R, the present studies indicate that the expression of IL-2-R on spleens of cell wall-treated rats is normal. However, the addition of exogenous IL-2 to spleen cells cultured with Con A does not stimulate the mitogenic response.

Antifolate drug interactions: enhancement of growth inhibition due to the antipurine 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid by the lipophilic dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors metoprine and trimetrexate.

The presence of low concentrations of the lipophilic dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors metoprine or trimetrexate, which cause little inhibition in the growth of cultured hepatoma cells in combination with weakly inhibiting concentrations of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate, exhibit greater activity than would be predicted by the activity of the individual components. Growth inhibition by this inhibitor of glycineaminoribonucleotide transferase alone or in the presence of the reductase inhibitors is prevented by hypoxanthine indicating that the combination of drugs is enhancing the activity of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate against purine biosynthesis. H35 hepatoma cells resistant to methotrexate (100-fold) as a result of a transport defect are 40-fold resistant to 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate suggesting that this analogue enters hepatoma cells at least in part by the reduced folate coenzyme-methotrexate transport system. The transport-resistant cells are also susceptible to enhanced inhibition of cell growth by low levels of reductase inhibitors in combination with 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate. These results have a corollary in an earlier study showing that the same concentrations of metoprine and trimetrexate could enhance the growth inhibition and cytotoxicity of the folate-based inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (Galivan et al., Cancer Res., 47: 5256-5260, 1987). Combinations of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid and 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid are less growth inhibitory than that predicted by each of the folate analogues alone. It is possible that the effects of all these combinations are related to distortions in the folate pools caused by the folate analogues being used in combination. Two methods of analysis, one graphical and one mathematical, were used to analyze the drug interactions described in this presentation. The enhancement effect seen with the lipophilic dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate clearly represents a supraadditive or a synergistic drug interaction. In contrast the combination of the folate-based inhibitors of purine (5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid) and thymidylate biosynthesis (N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate) exhibit frank antagonism under certain conditions.

Attenuation of interleukin 2-induced pulmonary vascular leak syndrome by low doses of oral methotrexate.

Pulmonary vascular leak induced in mice by interleukin 2 (IL-2) was attenuated by pretreatment with single or multiple doses of oral methotrexate. Methotrexate also attenuated pulmonary vascular leak when either larger doses of IL-2 or when lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells or LAK cells plus IL-2 were administered. Lymphoid infiltrates in the lungs of mice treated with IL-2 and methotrexate were significantly lower. The number of mice surviving treatment with high doses of IL-2 was also significantly increased when these mice were treated with methotrexate. Methotrexate prevented the IL-2-induced increase in the number of splenocytes that were asialo GM1+ but had no effect on Lyt 2+ or L3T4+ cell content. A marginal but significant inhibition in the generation of effector splenocytes that were cytolytic to either YAC or MCA-205 tumor targets was observed in mice treated with methotrexate and IL-2. In vivo studies indicated that methotrexate did not compromise the anti-tumor efficacy of treatment regimens that contained IL-2, LAK cells, or IL-2 and LAK cells. These results demonstrate the potential clinical utility of methotrexate in attenuating pulmonary vascular leak induced by IL-2 without compromising its efficacy. One potential mechanism of action of methotrexate is related to its ability to stimulate the release of adenosine followed by the inhibition of the adhesion of leukocytes to the IL-2-activated endothelium.

Biochemical and biological studies on 2-desamino-2-methylaminopterin, an antifolate the polyglutamates of which are more potent than the monoglutamate against three key enzymes of folate metabolism.

Biochemical and biological studies have been carried out with 2-desamino-2-methylaminopterin (dmAMT), which inhibits tumor cell growth in culture but is only a weak inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Since it was possible that the species responsible for growth inhibition are polyglutamylated metabolites, the di-, tri-, and tetraglutamates of dmAMT were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of purified recombinant human DHFR, murine L1210 leukemia thymidylate synthase (TS), chicken liver glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT), and murine L1210 leukemia aminoimidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFT). The compounds with three and four gamma-glutamyl residues were found to bind two orders of magnitude better than dmAMT itself to DHFR, TS, and AICARFT, with 50% inhibitory concentration values in the 200 to 300 nM range against all three enzymes. In contrast, at a concentration of 10 microM, dmAMT polyglutamates had no appreciable effect on GARFT activity. These findings support the hypothesis that dmAMT requires intracellular polyglutamylation for activity and indicate that replacement of the 2-amino group by 2-methyl is as acceptable a structural modification in antifolates targeted against DHFR as it is in antifolates targeted against TS. In growth assays against methotrexate (MTX)-sensitive H35 rat hepatoma cells and MTX-resistant H35 sublines with a transport defect, dmAMT was highly cross-resistant with MTX, but not with the TS inhibitors N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and N-(5-[N-(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-ox-oquinazolin-6-yl)-N- methylamino]thenoyl)-L-glutamic acid, implicating DHFR rather than TS as the principal target for dmAMT polyglutamates in intact cells. On the other hand, an H35 subline resistant to 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine by virtue of increased TS activity was highly cross-resistant to N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and not cross-resistant to MTX, but showed partial cross-resistance to dmAMT. Both thymidine and hypoxanthine were required to protect H35 cells treated with concentrations of dmAMT and MTX that inhibited growth by greater than 90% relative to unprotected controls. In contrast, N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and N-(5-[N-(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-6-yl)-N-methylamino] thenoyl)- L-glutamic acid required only thymidine for protection. Like MTX, therefore, dmAMT appears to inhibit purine as well as pyrimidine de novo synthesis, and its effect on cell growth probably reflects the ability of dmAMT polyglutamates to not only block dihydrofolate reduction but also interfere with other steps of folate metabolism, either directly or indirectly via alteration of reduced folate pools.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Properties of a collagenase inhibitor partially purified from cultures of smooth muscle cells.

An inhibitor of mammalian collagenase has been partially purified from the spent medium of smooth muscle cells grown in culture. The inhibitor is a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 25,000. It is stable to heat, acid, and mercurials, but is destroyed by trypsin treatment and by reductive alkylation. The inhibitor interacts with active mammalian collagenase and this interaction results in the loss of enzymatic activity. This presumptive collagenase-inhibitor complex is stable to the treatment with mercurials and to trypsin. These latter observations suggest that this inhibitor is different from other collagenase inhibitors that are thought to be responsible for the latency of the enzyme.

Purification and properties of a collagenase inhibitor from cultures of bovine aorta.

Bovine medial explants in culture synthesize a potent inhibitor of mammalian collagenase but not of bacterial collagenase. This inhibitor has been partially purified and has an apparent molecular weight of 45,000. It is a glycoprotein and is stable to heat, trypsin, acid and mercurials. Inhibitory activity is destroyed on reductive alkylation. The inhibitor interacts with collagenase and this interaction leads to the loss of enzymatic activity. This inhibitor may play a physiological role in the control of collagen degradation in blood vessels.

Pharmacologic properties of fenbufen.

Fenbufen (Cinopal) is an orally active nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic activity. Like clinically used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it shows activity in a wide spectrum of laboratory tests in mice, rats, guinea pigs, and dogs. Fenbufen has a long duration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Mechanistic studies indicate that fenbufen has no intrinsic effect on cyclooxygenase activity, whereas its major metabolite, biphenylacetic acid, is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. These observations indicate that fenbufen is a pro-drug and account for its low ulcerogenic potential. Anti-inflammatory pro-drugs that are readily metabolized to the biologically active molecule are expected to retain a favorable anti-inflammatory to ulcerogenic ratio because the gastrointestinal tract is not exposed to a large concentration of the active molecule. Comparative studies in the type II collagen arthritis model indicate that the anti-inflammatory properties of fenbufen are more potent than those of a second nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, sulindac.

Analogues of platelet activating factor. 6. Mono- and bis-aryl phosphate antagonists of platelet activating factor.

A series of aryl phosphoglyceride (3, 19-61) and bis-aryl phosphate (67-135) antagonists of platelet activating factor (PAF) were prepared. A group of four bifunctional phosphorus reagents (5a-c and 7) were developed that allowed the preparation of these aryl phosphates in which the position of aromatic substitution can be varied. These compounds were examined for their ability to inhibit PAF-induced platelet aggregation of rabbit platelets. Selected compounds were also evaluated for their ability to displace [3H]PAF from its receptor on rabbit platelets. These in vitro data were compared to similar data obtained for a number of known PAF antagonists. The compounds were evaluated in vivo, in both the mouse and rabbit, for their ability to prevent death induced by a lethal challenge of PAF. The relationships between the biological activity and the nature, lipophilicity, and position of substituents of the aromatic rings were studied. Compound 105 (CL 184005) has been selected to undergo further development as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of septic shock in man.

Analogues of platelet activating factor. 8. Antagonists of PAF containing an aromatic ring linked to a pyridinium ring.

A series of platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists containing a quaternary pyridinium ring connected through an amide, imide, or carbamate linkage to a substituted aromatic ring was prepared. Of these compounds, those containing a branched imide linkage of the form (CON-(COCH3)CH2, 37-51, and 59) generally showed excellent PAF antagonist properties in vitro. Structure-activity relationships within this series of compounds were studied extensively with respect to substituents and the position of substitution in both the aromatic and pyridinium rings. Several of these compounds (40 and 44) showed in vitro PAF antagonism at less than 0.1 microM and are as potent as CV-6209, the most potent PAF antagonist reported in the literature. Less active PAF antagonists were those bearing simple amide linkages (20-23, 27-29, and 31-35), linear imide linkages (62-63), or carbamate linkages (66 and 68), between the two aromatic rings. A number of our PAF antagonists were tested in vivo in mice and rabbits for their ability to protect these animals against a lethal injection of PAF. Those antagonists that are particularly potent (IC50 < 0.1 microM) provide excellent protection against an LD97 dose of PAF in rabbits. The relationships between structure and activity in vitro and in vivo are presented and compared to literature standards.

Preparation of substituted N-phenyl-4-aryl-2-pyrimidinamines as mediator release inhibitors.

The role of immunologically released mediators, such as histamine, leukotrienes, and platelet-activating factor, is well-established for asthma and other allergic disorders. Developing therapeutic agents which would block mediator release from mast cells and other relevant cell types would provide a rational approach to asthma therapy. Using human basophil as a screen, a series of 4-aryl-2-(phenylamino)pyrimidines was found which inhibited mediator release. These compounds were prepared by condensing acetyl heterocycles with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal to form enaminones which are cyclized with aryl guanidines to give pyrimidines. After examining a large number of analogs, N-[3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-4-(2-pyridinyl)-2- pyrimidinamine (1-27) was chosen for toxicological evaluation.

Analogues of platelet activating factor. 7. Bis-aryl amide and bis-aryl urea receptor antagonists of PAF.

A series of bis-aryl amide (13-57 and 66-81) and bis-aryl urea (58 and 85) antagonists of platelet-activating factor (PAF) was prepared that contain, separating the two aromatic rings, linear amide linkages of the form -(CH2)nCONH- (n = 0-2), -OCH2CONH-, and -(CH2)nNHCO- (n = 0-1), branched amide linkages of the form -(CH2)nN(COR)- (n = 1-3, R = CH3 or n-C3H7), and -N(COCH3)CH2-, and urea linkages of the form -NHCONH- and -CH2N(CONHCH3)-. These compounds were examined for their ability to inhibit PAF-induced platelet aggregation of rabbit platelets. These in vitro data were compared to similar data obtained for a number of known PAF antagonists. The compounds were evaluated in vivo, in the mouse, for their ability to prevent death induced by a lethal challenge of PAF. The relationships between the biological activity and the nature, lipophilicity, and position of substituents of the aromatic rings were studied. Best activity was observed for compounds having linkages of the type -CH2CONH-, -CH2N(COR)-, and -CH2NHCO-. Many of these compounds inhibit PAF-induced platelet aggregation with IC50's under 1 microM.

Passive collagen arthritis induced by anticollagen IgG.

Studies conducted in rats and mice indicate that passive arthritis can be transferred to naive recipients with anticollagen IgG. The passively transferred disease is less severe and is transient. Rats that recover from passive arthritis are resistant to a second phase of clinical disease when administered either anticollagen IgG or type II collagen. Suppressor T cells appear to be responsible for this resistance. Passive arthritis induced by anticollagen IgG is a complement dependent lesion. Deposition of IgG on the cartilage and host complement C3 and C5 activation are essential for the induction of passive disease. Inflammatory cells are necessary for the demonstration of passive arthritis; mice deficient in inflammatory cells or defective in this cell population are resistant to passive arthritis. Monoclonal antibodies reactive to type II collagen or to a renatured TCA fragment can also induce passive arthritis. The disease is subclinical and can be detected only after histological analysis of the joints.

A new structural class of proteasome inhibitors that prevent NF-kappa B activation.

The multicatalytic proteinase or proteasome is a highly conserved cellular structure that is responsible for the ATP-dependent proteolysis of many proteins involved in important regulatory cellular processes. We have identified a novel class of inhibitors of the chymotrypsin-like proteolytic activity of the 20S proteasome that exhibit IC50 values ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 microgram/mL (0.1 to 1 microM). In cell proliferation assays, these compounds inhibit growth with an IC50 ranging from 5 to 10 micrograms/mL (10-20 microM). A representative member of this class of inhibitors was tested in other biological assays. CVT-634 (5-methoxy-1-indanone-3-acetyl-leu-D-leu-1-indanylamide) prevented lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, and phorbol ester-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) in vitro by preventing signal-induced degradation of I kappa B-alpha. In these studies, the I kappa B-alpha that accumulated was hyperphosphorylated, indicating that CVT-634 did not inhibit I kappa B-alpha kinase, the enzyme responsible for signal-induced phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha. In vivo studies indicated that CVT-634 prevented LPS-induced TNF synthesis in a murine macrophage cell line. In addition, in mice pretreated with CVT-634 at 25 and 50 mg/kg and subsequently treated with LPS, serum TNF levels were significantly lower (225 +/- 59 and 83 +/- 41 pg/mL, respectively) than in those mice that were treated only with LPS (865 +/- 282 pg/mL). These studies suggest that specific inhibition of the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome is sufficient to prevent signal-induced NF-kappa B activation and that the proteasome is a novel target for the identification of agents that may be useful in the treatment of diseases whose etiology is dependent upon the activation of NF-kappa B.

Studies on the effect of CL 306,293, a substituted quinoline carboxylic acid, on the clinical disease induced in mice with LP-BM5 virus.

CL 306,293, a substituted quinoline carboxylic acid, is a potent inhibitor of dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase, an enzyme essential for the biosynthesis of pyrimidines. In mammalian cell culture, the agent exhibits antiproliferative properties that can be reversed by the addition of uridine. CL 306,293 inhibits the development of the clinical disease in a murine model of immunodeficiency induced by a mixture of LP-BM5 retroviruses. In infected mice, the agent prevents the development of hypergammaglobulinemia, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and induction of an IL-2 deficiency. The CD4/CD8 ratio and the number of B cells in the lymph nodes are decreased if the infected animals are treated with CL 306,293. CL 306,293 was more efficacious and potent than 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine. The beneficial effects of CL 306,293 observed in this model are most probably related to its antiproliferative properties.

Synergy between 5,10-dideaza-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid and methotrexate in mice bearing L1210 tumors.

In vivo studies with 5,10-dideaza-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF), an inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase, indicate that at doses ranging from 2.5 to 10 mg/kg, it prolongs the survival of mice implanted with L1210 tumors. Lower doses of this agent have no effect. Parallel studies with methotrexate indicate that DDATHF is not as potent or as efficacious as methotrexate in this animal model. Low doses of DDATHF combined with low doses of methotrexate can cause a significant increase in the survival of L1210 tumor-bearing mice, suggesting synergism between these two antifolates.

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: studies with animal models.

The present studies have shown that low doses of methotrexate can suppress the inflammation and joint destruction associated with animal models of arthritis. The antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate are probably related to its inhibitory effect on chemotaxis. At the low doses used, methotrexate does not induce systemic immunosuppression. In methotrexate-treated rats, an improvement in IL-2 synthesis is observed and increases in IL-2 levels are expected to improve cell mediated immunity. Suppressor cells appear to be very sensitive to methotrexate. Macrophage function is modulated by methotrexate. All of these effects including the effects on joint destruction are probably due to inhibition of DHFR activity of critical cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of rat arthritis induced either by adjuvant or by streptococcal cell walls. Some of these effects have been extended to human arthritis but additional studies are required to understand how low dose methotrexate exerts its beneficial effects in humans.

Preclinical studies with platelet-activating factor antagonists in models of septic shock.

Since the isolation and elucidation of the structure of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the late 1970's, several preclinical studies have suggested that PAF is a key mediator of septic shock induced in animals by either endotoxin or by Gram-negative bacteria. A number of PAF antagonists have been sythesized that protect animals from the lethal effects of endotoxin. Some of these antagonists are in early stages of clinical development. The most advanced cadidate is BN 52021, a ginkgolide, that is in Phase II/III clinical trials in patients with septic shock. Preliminary results with BN 52021 indicate that it is efficacious and significantly reduces mortality associated with Gram-negative sepsis. Pivotal trials with BN 52021 aer ongoing. The present review summarizes the biological effects of PAF and the effect of PAF antagonists in animal models of septic shock. The interrelationship of PAF and tumor necrosis factor (another key mediator of septic shock) is also discussed.

Type II collagen induced arthritis in rats: clinical and immunological studies.

Immunization of laboratory rats with native Type II collagen induces arthritis in approximately 40 percent of the individuals. Histological and radiological analysis have suggested that the lesion bears several similarities to human rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical studies conducted with this model indicate that it is responsive to the treatment with clinically-used NSAID'S, steroids and immunosuppressive agents. When rats with collagen arthritis were treated with DMARD's, only those treated with D-penicillamine showed clinical improvement (radiological evaluation). Type II collagen induced arthritis is complement-dependent and is an example of an immune complex mediated injury. Thus, passive arthritis can be induced in rats by the intravenous administration of affinity-purified anticollagen IgG. The passive lesion is transient and the administered IgG is detected on the articular cartilage of the hind paws. This articular cartilage also contains complement C3. Passive arthritis is also complement-dependent. Suppression of Type II collagen arthritis can be induced by the prior intravenous treatment of rats with either Type II collagen or its constituent peptide alpha 1, (II) CB10. Antigen-induced arthritis cannot be induced in those rats that have recovered from passive arthritis.