Impact of St. John's wort extract Ze 117 on stress induced changes in the lipidome of PBMC.

BACKGROUND: Membrane lipids have an important function in the brain as they not only provide a physical barrier segregating the inner and outer cellular environments, but are also involved in cell signaling. It has been shown that the lipid composition effects membrane fluidity which affects lateral mobility and activity of membrane-bound receptors. METHODS: Since changes in cellular membrane properties are considered to play an important role in the development of depression, the effect of St. John's wort extract Ze 117 on plasma membrane fluidity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated using fluorescence anisotropy measurements. Changes in fatty acid residues in phospholipids after treatment of cortisol-stressed [1 µM] PBMCs with Ze 117 [10-50 µg/ml] were analyzed by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Cortisol increased membrane fluidity significantly by 3%, co-treatment with Ze 117 [50 µg/ml] counteracted this by 4.6%. The increased membrane rigidity by Ze 117 in cortisol-stressed [1 µM] PBMC can be explained by a reduced average number of double bonds and shortened chain length of fatty acid residues in phospholipids, as shown by lipidomics experiments. CONCLUSION: The increase in membrane rigidity after Ze 117 treatment and therefore the ability to normalize membrane structure points to a new mechanism of antidepressant action of the extract.

Effect of St. John's wort extract Ze 117 on the lateral mobility of ß1-adrenergic receptors in C6 cells.

Depression has been associated with altered signal transduction of serotonergic, dopaminergic and adrenergic neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Signaling relies on receptor-ligand interactions and subsequent regulatory processes, but also on lateral receptor mobility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the St. John's wort extract Ze 117 on the lateral mobility of SNAP-tagged ß1-adrenergic receptors (ß1AR) in the plasma membrane of C6 cells under both, non-stimulating and isoprenaline-stimulating conditions. Single particle tracking (SPT) was used, whereby the registered trajectories were evaluated by variational Bayesian treatment of a hidden Markov model (vbSPT) and packing coefficient (Pc) analysis with respect to diffusion coefficients, receptor state occupancies and confinement. Three different diffusion states were identified, differing in their diffusion coefficients. Treatment with Ze 117 [25 µg/ml] decreased the mobility of the ß1AR, which was manifested by a relative increase in the slow-diffusing state S1 (0.21-0.30) compared to control and by an increase in receptor confinement (79.4-68.1 nm). After isoprenaline stimulation of control cells, the slow-diffusing state was more pronounced, whereas confinement was not affected. In summary, SPT has been shown to be a powerful method to analyze lateral receptor mobility. Furthermore, the present study identified a correlation between Ze 117 treatment and ß1AR mobility.

Ivy leaves dry extract EA 575® mediates biased ß2-adrenergic receptor signaling.

BACKGROUND: ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR) stimulation activates the G protein/cAMP pathway, which is opposed by the GRK2/ß-arrestin 2 pathway. The latter is undesirable in the treatment of respiratory diseases. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: EA 575® is capable of mediating a biased ß2-adrenergic signaling pathway. METHODS: The impact of the ivy leaves dry extract EA 575® on ß2-adrenergic signaling was tested in a dynamic mass redistribution assay in HEK wild-type and in HEK ß-arrestin knock-out cells. cAMP formation and recruitment of ß-arrestin 2 were investigated using GloSensor™ and PathHunter® assays, respectively. NFκB transcriptional activity was determined in both HEK wild-type as well as HEK ß-arrestin knock-out cells. RESULTS: EA 575® inhibits the recruitment of ß-arrestin 2 and thereby enhances G protein/cAMP signaling under ß2-stimulating conditions, as evidenced by a corresponding increase in cAMP formation. While ß2-AR-mediated inhibition of NFκB transcriptional activity is ß-arrestin-dependent, EA 575® leads to significant inhibition of NFκB transcriptional activity in ß-arrestin knock-out cells and thus via a ß-arrestin-independent signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: EA 575® is the first active phytopharmaceutical ingredient for which biased ß2-adrenergic activation has been described. This shift towards G protein/cAMP signaling provides the molecular basis for the clinically proven efficacy of EA 575® in the treatment of lower respiratory tract diseases. In this light, EA 575® could potentially reduce ß-arrestin-mediated adverse effects in new combinatorial therapeutic approaches.

St John's wort extract influences membrane fluidity and composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in rat C6 glioblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stress, an important factor in the development of depressive disorders, leads to an increased formation of cortisol, which causes a hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In addition, cortisol mediates an adaptive effect on plasma membrane fluidity which may affect signal transduction of membrane-bound receptors and contribute to pathophysiological changes. METHODS: Membrane fluidity was measured by fluorescence anisotropy using DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) and TMA-DPH (1-(4-(trimethylamino)phenyl)-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene). Changes in cellular content of phosphatidylcholine species was determined by pulse-chase experiments using deuterated choline and mass spectrometry. Single molecule tracking was used to examine the lateral mobility of ß1-adrenoceptors and changes in cAMP formation were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Chronic exposure (6 - 8 days) of C6 cells to cortisol dose-dependently decreased DPH and TMA-DPH fluorescence anisotropy, reflecting increased membrane fluidity. In contrast, cells pretreated with St. John's wort extract Ze117 showed increased DPH and TMA-DPH fluorescence anisotropy values, indicating a membrane rigidification effect which was mediated at least by the constituents hypericin, hyperforin, quercetin, amentoflavone and biapigenin. The observed membrane fluidizing effect of cortisol could be reversed by cotreatment with Ze117. The membrane rigidification of Ze117 was in line with the in parallel observed decrease in the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio determined in whole cell lipid extracts. Interestingly, pulse-chase experiments demonstrated, that Ze117 inhibited the incorporation of choline-D9 in phosphatidylcholine species with saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids compared to control cells, while the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine species with polyunsaturated fatty acids was not affected. C6 cells whose membranes have become more rigid by Ze117 showed altered lateral mobility of ß1-adrenoceptors as well as reduced cAMP formation after stimulation with the ß1-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine. CONCLUSION: Obviously, the signaling of ß1-adrenoceptors depends on the nature of the membrane environment. It can therefore be assumed that Ze117 has a normalizing effect not only on the membrane fluidity of "stressed" cells, but also on lateral mobility and subsequently on the signal transduction of membrane-associated receptors.

Anti-inflammatory effects of ivy leaves dry extract: influence on transcriptional activity of NFκB.

EA 575® is an ivy leaves dry extract (DER 5-7.5:1, 30% ethanol) used against diseases of the lower respiratory tract associated with productive cough. EA 575® improves symptoms associated with chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions. Compared to its bronchospasmolytic and secretolytic properties, the anti-inflammatory effects of EA 575® are mostly untried. Therefore, we addressed the question of whether the anti-inflammatory effect of EA 575® is due to an impact on the NFκB pathway. NFκB nuclear translocation was visualized by immunofluorescence in J774.2 as well as HEK293 cells. In the latter, a luciferase-based reporter was used to monitor NFκB transcriptional activity. Phosphorylation of RelA and its inhibitor IκB was measured by Western blot analysis. Additionally, changes in the stability of NFκB:IκB complex were shown by protein fragment complementation. Decreased transcriptional activity of NFκB under treatment with EA 575® was also shown for a human monocytic as well as a human lung epithelial cell line. EA 575® is able to inhibit NFκB transcriptional activity by partially inhibiting its translocation to the nucleus after stimulation with TNFα. Furthermore, phosphorylation of IκBα is reduced while phosphorylation of RelA is enhanced after pre-incubation with EA 575®, leading to an enhanced stability of NFκB:IκBα complex. EA 575® has an regulatory impact on the NFκB pathway, possibly by switching specificity of IKK from IκBα to RelA, resulting in enhanced stability of NFκB:IκBα complex and reduced RelA translocation into the nucleus.

α-Hederin inhibits G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2-mediated phosphorylation of ß2-adrenergic receptors.

BACKGROUND: Recently is has been shown that α- and ß-hederin increase the ß2-adrenergic responsiveness of alveolar type II cells (A549) and human airway smooth muscle cells (HASM), respectively, by inhibiting the internalization of ß2-adrenergic receptors (ß2AR) under stimulating conditions. Internalization of ß2AR is initiated by phosphorylations of certain serines and threonines by cAMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK). PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of α-hederin on PKA and GRK2 mediated phosphorylation of GFP-tagged ß2AR. STUDY DESIGN: To study this process we performed In-Cell Western using isoprenaline stimulated HEK293 cells overexpressing ß2AR as GFP fusion protein and specific antibodies against PKA (Ser345/346) and GRK2 (Ser355/356) phosphorylation sites. RESULTS: There was no effect found on the PKA mediated phosphorylation (n = 14) but we could show that α-hederin (1 µM, 12 h) significantly inhibits GRK2 mediated phosphorylation at Ser355/356 by 11 ± 5% (n ≥ 29, p ≤ 0.01) under stimulating conditions compared to the positive control. In Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments using the isolated kinases in solution α-hederin did not show any influence neither to GRK2 nor to PKA. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results indicate that α-hederin acts as an indirect GRK2 inhibitor leading to a reduced homologous desensitization of ß2AR-GFP in HEK293 cells.

A systematic study on the influence of the main ingredients of an ivy leaves dry extract on the ß2-adrenergic responsiveness of human airway smooth muscle cells.

The bronchospasmolytic and secretolytic effects of ivy leaves dry extracts can be explained by an increased ß2-adrenergic responsiveness of the bronchi. Recently, it was shown that α-hederin inhibits the internalization of ß2-adrenergic receptors (ß2AR) under stimulating conditions. α-Hederin pretreated alveolar type II cells and human airway smooth muscle cells revealed an increased ß2AR binding and an elevated intracellular cAMP level, respectively. In order to identify whether additional compounds also mediate an increased ß2-adrenergic responsiveness, we examined the ingredients of an ivy leaves dry extract (EA 575) protocatechuic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, 3,4-, 3,5- and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, hederacoside B, and ß-hederin. Within all the tested substances, only ß-hederin inhibited the internalization of GFP-tagged ß2AR in stably transfected HEK293 cells. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy ß-hederin (1 µM, 24 h) pretreated HASM cells showed a statistically significant increase in the ß2AR binding from 33.0 ± 8.9% to 44.1 ± 11.5% which was distributed with 36.0 ± 9.5% for τbound1 and 8.1 ± 2.6% for τbound2, respectively (n = 8, p < 0.05). The increased binding was selectively found for the receptor-ligand complex with unrestricted lateral mobility (τbound1 of 0.9 ± 0.1 ms, D1 = 9.1 ± 0.2 µm(2)/s, n = 8), whereas the binding of ß2AR with hindered lateral mobility (τbound2 of 64.2 ± 47.6 ms, D2 = 0.15 ± 0.02 µm(2)/s, n = 8) was not affected. Compared to control cells, a statistically significant increase of 17.5 ± 6.4% (n = 4, p < 0.05) and 24.2 ± 5.8% (n = 4, p < 0.001) in the cAMP formation was found for ß-hederin pretreated HASM cells after stimulation with 10 µM of terbutaline and simultaneous stimulation with 10 µM terbutaline and 10 µM forskolin, respectively. Within this systematic study focusing on the influence of the ingredients of an ivy leaves dry extract on HASM cells it was possible to identify ß-hederin as further component presumably responsible for the ß2-mimetic effects.

Downregulation of ß1 -adrenergic receptors in rat C6 glioblastoma cells by hyperforin and hyperoside from St John's wort.

OBJECTIVES: While the use of St John's wort extracts as treatment for mild to moderate depression is well established the mode of action is still under investigation. Individual constituents of St John's wort extract were tested for possible effects on the ß1 AR density and a subsequent change in downstream signalling in rat C6 glioblastoma cells. METHODS: The effect of compounds from St John's wort extract on the downregulation of ß1 -adrenergic receptor-GFP fusion proteins (ß1 AR-green fluorescent protein (GFP)) of transfected rat C6 gliobastoma cells (C6-ß1 AR-GFP) was investigated by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM). The influence on the lateral mobility of ß1 AR-GFP in C6-ß1 AR-GFP was investigated by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The formation of second messenger was determined by c-AMP-assay. KEY FINDINGS: Confocal LSM revealed that pretreatment of cells with 1 µm of hyperforin and hyperoside for 6 days, respectively, led to an internalization of ß1 AR-GFP under non-stimulating conditions. Observation by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy showed two diffusion time constants for control cells, with τdiff1 = 0.78 ± 0.18 ms and τdiff2 = 122.53 ± 69.41 ms, similarly distributed. Pretreatment with 1 µm hyperforin or 1 µm hyperoside for 3 days did not alter the τdiff values but decreased the fraction of τdiff1 whereas the fraction of τdiff2 increased significantly. An elevated level of ß1 AR-GFP with hindered lateral mobility was in line with ß1 AR-GFP internalization induced by hyperforin and hyperoside, respectively. A reduced ß1 -adrenergic responsiveness was assumed for C6 gliobastoma cells after pretreatment for 6 days with 1 µm of both hyperforin and hyperoside, which was confirmed by decreased cAMP formation of about 10% and 5% under non-stimulating conditions. Decrease in cAMP formation by 23% for hyperforin and 15% for hyperoside was more pronounced after stimulation with 10 µm dobutamine for 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of C6 gliobastoma cells with hyperforin and hyperoside results in a reduced ß1 AR density in the plasma membrane and a subsequent reduced downstream signalling.

Pre-treatment with α-hederin increases ß-adrenoceptor mediated relaxation of airway smooth muscle.

Preparations of ivy leaves dry extract with secretolytic and bronchiolytic efficacy are widely used for the treatment of acute and chronic obstructive airway diseases. The mechanism by which ivy preparations improve lung functions is not fully understood. Here, we tested the influence of the three main saponins of ivy, α-hederin, hederacoside C and hederagenin, on the contraction and relaxation behaviour of isolated bovine tracheal smooth muscle strips by isometric tension measurements. None of the tested compounds altered histamine or methacholine-induced contraction of the smooth muscle strips. In contrast, the isoprenaline-induced relaxation of 100µM methacholine precontracted muscle strips was significantly enhanced when pre-treated with 1µM of α-hederin for 18h. The pre-treatment with hederacoside C or hederagenin had no effect on isoprenaline-induced relaxation. For the first time the bronchiolytic effect of α-hederin was demonstrated by isometric tension measurements using bovine tracheal smooth muscle strips. α-Hederin increases isoprenaline-induced relaxation indirectly, probably by inhibiting heterologous desensitization induced by high concentrations of muscarinic ligands like methacholine.

Alpha-hederin, but not hederacoside C and hederagenin from Hedera helix, affects the binding behavior, dynamics, and regulation of beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

Hederacoside C, alpha-hederin, and hederagenin are saponins of dry extracts obtained from the leaves of ivy (Hedera helix L.). Internalization of beta(2)-adrenergic receptor-GFP fusion proteins after stimulation with 1 microM terbutaline was inhibited by preincubation of stably transfected HEK293 cells with 1 microM alpha-hederin for 24 h, whereas neither hederacoside C nor hederagenin (1 microM each) influenced this receptor regulation. After incubation of A549 cells with 5 nM Alexa532-NA, two different diffusion time constants were found for beta(2)AR-Alexa532-NA complexes by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Evaluation of the autocorrelation curve revealed diffusion time constants: tau(bound1) = 1.4 +/- 1.1 ms (n = 6) found for receptor-ligand complexes with unrestricted lateral mobility, and tau(bound2) = 34.7 +/- 14.1 ms (n = 6) for receptor-ligand complexes with hindered mobility. The distribution of diffusion time constants was 24.3 +/- 2.5% for tau(bound1) and 8.7 +/- 4.3% for tau(bound2) (n = 6). A549 cells pretreated with 1 microM alpha-hederin for 24 h showed dose-dependent alterations in this distribution with 37.1 +/- 5.5% for tau(bound1) and 4.1 +/- 1.1% for tau(bound2). Simultaneously, the level of Alexa532-NA binding was significantly increased from 33.0 +/- 6.8 to 41.2 +/- 4.6%. In saturation experiments, alpha-hederin did not influence the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor density (B(max)), whereas the K(D) value for Alexa532-NA binding decreased from 36.1 +/- 9.2 to 24.3 +/- 11.1 nM. Pretreatment of HASM cells with alpha-hederin (1 microM, 24 h) revealed an increased intracellular cAMP level of 13.5 +/- 7.0% under stimulating conditions. Remarkably, structure-related saponins like hederacoside C and hederagenin did not influence either the binding behavior of beta(2)AR or the intracellular cAMP level.

Influence of xanthohumol on the binding behavior of GABAA receptors and their lateral mobility at hippocampal neurons.

The influence of the xanthohumol from Humulus lupulus L. on the binding of muscimol-Alexa Fluor 532 (Mu-Alexa), a fluorescently labeled GABAA receptor agonist, was studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. An incubation of hippocampal neurons with 75 nM of xanthohumol increased the specific Mu-Alexa binding by approximately 17%, which was selectively found in GABAA receptor Mu-Alexa complexes with hindered lateral mobility [D(bound2) = (0.11 +/- 0.03) microm2/s] as described with midazolam.

HPLC analysis of flavokavins and kavapyrones from Piper methysticum Forst.

A simultaneous HPLC separation of the six major kavapyrones and the flavokavins A-C in an ethanolic extract of Piper methysticum was carried out on a Symmetry C18 column. For quantitative determinations of the flavokavins, calibration curves with correlation coefficients between 0.9986 and 0.9998 were established. Detection limit for each flavokavin of 0.5 ng per injection was measured at 355 nm. The precision of the HPLC analysis was verified by six determinations of the content of flavokavins in the kava extract. Flavokavins A-C contents of 0.62+/-0.01 mg/100 mg, 0.34+/-0.01 mg/100 mg and 0.14+/-0.003 mg/100 mg ethanolic kava extract was found, respectively. From the corresponding relative standard deviation of 1.53, 1.99 and 2.30% the confidential interval (P=95) of the mean value was calculated for each flavokavin. The accuracy of the method was proven by recoveries between 99.2+/-0.3% and 101.1+/-0.4% for the flavokavins A-C.

1-Substituted beta-carboline-3-carboxylates with high affinities to the benzodiazepine recognition site.

Naturally occurring derivatives of beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid bearing acetyl or vinyl groups at C-1 were prepared by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of methyl 1-chloro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate with appropriate organostannanes. Esters with chloro or acetyl groups at C-1 showed high affinity for the brain benzodiazepine recognition site. Thus, in contrast to 1-alkyl and 1-aryl analogs, these beta-carboline-3-carboxylates with electron-withdrawing substituents at C-1 show high affinities.

Positive cooperation of protoberberine type 2 alkaloids from Corydalis cava on the GABA(A) binding site.

Protoberberine alkaloids from the rhizomes of Corydalis cava were investigated with regard to their influence on the GABA A receptor using radioreceptor assays. Whereas the protoberberine type 2 alkaloids, isoapocavidine, corydaline, tetrahydropalmatine, scoulerine and isocorypalmine, increased the specific [(3)H]BMC-binding in a range of 21 - 49 %, the protoberberine type 1 alkaloids, palmatine, coptisine, dehydroapocavidine, and dehydrocorydaline, had no influence on the binding behaviour of the GABA A receptor. To confirm the modulatory activity of the protoberberine type 2 alkaloids on living cells, GABA A receptor binding studies were performed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) using hippocampal neurons and the fluorescently labelled ligand, muscimol-Alexa (Mu-Alexa). The incubation of hippocampal neurons with 7.5 nM Mu-Alexa showed a specific binding of 5.25 nM (70 %). The evaluation of the autocorrelation curve revealed two different mobilities of receptor ligand complexes, D bound1 = (2.8 +/- 0.91) microm 2/s for the free lateral mobility and D bound2 = (0.14 +/- 0.05) microm 2/s for the hindered mobility. An incubation of hippocampal neurons with 7.5 nM Mu-Alexa and 7.5 nM scoulerine showed a maximal increase of the specific Mu-Alexa binding of approximately 27 % by selectively modulating the amount of receptor-ligand complexes with a hindered mobility (9 % to 27 %).