Role of platelet-activating factor-acether in mediating guinea pig anaphylaxis.

The pathophysiology of anaphylaxis is very complex, and the sequelae of events are not fully explained in terms of the effects of histamine and peptide leukotrienes alone. Platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine, PAF-acether) has been detected in animals undergoing anaphylaxis. Injection of synthetic PAF-acether induces similar effects, including bronchoconstriction, respiratory arrest, systemic hypotension, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. The results reported here demonstrate that the histamine- and leukotriene-independent component of guinea pig anaphylaxis in vivo and in isolated lung parenchymal strips in vitro is mediated by PAF-acether. However, PAF-acether is not responsible for the anaphylaxis-induced thrombocytopenia.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Acanthus ilicifolius.

Acanthus ilicifolius Linn, is a perennial herb (Acanthaceae) widely found in the Sundarban mangroves and is popularly used for its wound healing effects. In the present study an attempt was made to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the Acanthus ilicifolius leaves. The methanolic fraction of Acanthus ilicifolius leaf extract produced significant inhibition of rat paw oedema, when administered both prior to and after carrageenan administration, in a manner similar to BW755C a synthetic cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. The extract decreased protein exudation and leukocyte migration in the peritoneal fluid, thereby indicating its effectiveness towards inhibiting peritoneal inflammation. It also produced significant inhibition of COX (1 and 2) and 5-LOX activity. Preincubation of the extract inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The methanolic fraction of the extract was also found to possess significant free radical (DPPH, ABTS, superoxide and hydroxyl radical) scavenging activity. The extract on intraperitoneal administration augmented the endogenous antioxidant status, as evident from the significant increase of ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and total peroxyl radical trapping activity of plasma (TRAP).

Pharmacological studies on Indian black tea (leaf variety) in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Infusions of Indian black tea (BTI), when administered orally, produced significant inhibition of rat paw oedema, induced with carrageenin (pre and post treatment) and arachidonic acid. BTI was also found to inhibit peritoneal capillary permeability and caused a marked reduction of lipopolysaccharide induced PGE(2) generation. In these models, the observed antioedema effect was similar to that of BW755C (a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes). BTI was found to scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and also protected rat erythrocytes from the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide. In chronic studies, BTI inhibited granuloma formation along with the reduction of both lipid peroxidation and hydroxyproline content (in the granuloma tissue). Significant antiarthritic activity was observed with regular administration of BTI in the Freund's adjuvant induced model of arthritis. Chronic treatment with BTI (in arthritic rats) resulted in a decrease of paw diameter and tissue lipid peroxidation, along with a restoration of GSH, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels.

Role of invading leukocytes in enhanced atrial eicosanoid production following rabbit left ventricular myocardial infarction.

The isolated perfused hearts of rabbits previously subjected to in vivo left ventricular myocardial infarction (LVMI) show a 5-10-fold increase in f-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) and bradykinin (BK)-stimulated eicosanoid metabolite production relative to noninfarcted hearts. This exaggerated arachidonate metabolism has been shown to occur primarily in the cardiac atria, a site remote from the zone of injury and to be associated with a 10-15-fold increase in atrial FMLP receptor number in the absence of atrial inflammation. All of these changes were temporally related to leukocyte infiltration into the infarct zone. To determine whether invading leukocytes mediate these responses, acute inflammatory cell influx was suppressed either by inducing leukopenia with nitrogen mustard or by administration of BW-755C, a mixed cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase inhibitor. Both pharmacological manipulations resulted in a decrease in inflammatory cells in the infarct zone and a marked suppression (50-70%) of ex vivo agonist-stimulated eicosanoid metabolite production from perfused hearts and isolated atria. These manipulations also resulted in reversal of ex vivo FMLP-induced coronary vasoconstriction as well as augmentation of BK-induced coronary vasodilation. Further studies in nitrogen mustard-treated animals revealed a suppression of the LVMI-stimulated increase in atrial FMLP receptor number. These data show that suppression of leukocyte invasion after LVMI attenuates enhanced cardiac and atrial eicosanoid metabolite production, and results in marked changes in coronary vascular reactivity. An additional finding was that basal and stimulated LTB4 production was markedly increased in infarcted hearts. In vivo suppression of the increase in LTB4 production by BW-755C was associated with inhibition of inflammatory cell influx into the infarct zone. It therefore appears that LTB4 may be an important proinflammatory mediator of leukocyte invasion after LVMI.

Murine glomerular leukotriene B4 synthesis. Manipulation by (n-6) fatty acid deprivation and cellular origin.

Leukotriene (LT) B4 is an important pro-inflammatory autocoid. In order to investigate the potential role of this eicosanoid in renal inflammation, in this study we determined the capability of glomeruli to synthesize this mediator. Glomeruli were able to synthesize LTB4 when provided with exogenous substrate in a dose-dependent fashion in the presence of ionophore A23187. Ionophore, although by itself a weak agonist for LTB4 formation, was required for LTB4 production from exogenous arachidonate. The identity of LTB4 was confirmed by specific radioimmunoassay, high pressure liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The synthesis of LTB4 was inhibited by BW755C (a lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase inhibitor) but not indomethacin. Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency, obtained by the deprivation of (n-6) fatty acids, is known to exert a protective effect in renal inflammatory states. This dietary manipulation markedly attenuated the ability of glomeruli to synthesize LTB4. In contrast, the synthesis of cyclooxygenase products from exogenous arachidonate was increased by EFA deficiency. Because EFA deficiency has been shown to deplete glomeruli of resident mesangial macrophages, it was hypothesized that this effect accounted for the diminished LTB4 synthesis. To test this hypothesis, glomeruli were depleted of macrophages using x-irradiation. Glomeruli from these animals exhibited a marked decrease in LTB4 synthesis. Glomerular synthesis of cyclooxygenase products was unaffected by irradiation. In sum, glomeruli have the capability to synthesize LTB4, and this capacity is correlated with the presence of glomerular macrophages. EFA deficiency attenuates the ability of glomeruli to synthesize LTB4 by depleting them of macrophages.

Prostacyclin production by the deendothelialized rabbit aorta.

The acute effect of in vitro deendothelialization on the production of prostacyclin (PGI2) by the rabbit aorta has been investigated. The effectiveness of removing endothelium by rubbing it against filter paper or scraping it with a scalpel was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and en face examination after silver staining. Endothelium removal produced an immediate stimulation of PGI2 release, resulting in 408% of the control after rubbing and 367% of the control after scraping, during the first 30-min period of incubation. This increased production of PGI2 gradually declined over time to reach values similar to the control after 2h. At that time, the deendothelialized aorta was totally unresponsive to the stimuli that increase PGI2 release in the intact aorta (acetylcholine, ADP, ionophore A23187, and arachidonic acid). The enhanced production of PGI2 in the deendothelialized aorta was associated with an increased release of free arachidonic acid (353% of the control): in contrast with PGI2, this stimulation was maintained for at least 150 min. A transient exposure of the deendothelialized aorta to ibuprofen (250 microM) was followed by a rebound of PGI2 production, which was also prolonged by BW-755C (3-10 microM). In conclusion, removal of the endothelium triggered an immediate and sustained mobilization of free arachidonic acid in the rabbit aorta: the resulting increase of PGI2 production was short-lived, probably as a consequence of cyclooxygenase self-inactivation. Our results indicate that the subendothelium has a significant capacity to produce PGI2, but that this capacity is expressed only briefly.

Specific action of the lipoxygenase pathway in mediating angiotensin II-induced aldosterone synthesis in isolated adrenal glomerulosa cells.

Angiotensin II (AII) in adrenal glomerulosa cells activates phospholipase C resulting in the formation of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol rich in arachidonic acid (AA). Although glomerulosa cells can metabolize AA via cyclooxygenase (CO), this pathway plays little role in aldosterone synthesis. Recent evidence suggests that the lipoxygenase (LO) pathway may be important for hormonal secretion in endocrine tissues such as the islet of Langerhans. However, the capacity of the glomerulosa cell to synthesize LO products and their role in aldosterone secretion is not known. To study this, the effect of nonselective and selective LO inhibitors on AII, ACTH, and potassium-induced aldosterone secretion and LO product formation was evaluated in isolated rat glomerulosa cells. BW755c, a nonselective LO inhibitor dose dependently reduced the AII-stimulated level of aldosterone without altering AII binding (91 +/- 6 to 36 +/- 4 ng/10(6) cells/h 10(-4) M, P less than 0.001). The same effect was observed with another nonselective LO blocker, phenidone, and a more selective 12-LO inhibitor, Baicalein. In contrast U-60257, a selective 5-LO inhibitor did not change the AII-stimulated levels of aldosterone (208 +/- 11% control, AII 10(-9) M vs. 222 +/- 38%, AII + U-60257). The LO blockers action was specific for AII since neither BW755c nor phenidone altered ACTH or K+-induced aldosterone secretion. AII stimulated the formation of the 12-LO product 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) as measured by ultraviolet detection and HPLC in AA loaded cells and by a specific RIA in unlabeled cells (501 +/- 50 to 990 +/- 10 pg/10(5) cells, P less than 0.02). BW755c prevented the AII-mediated rise in 12-HETE formation. In contrast, neither ACTH nor K+ increased 12-HETE levels. The addition of 12-HETE or its unstable precursor 12-HPETE (10(-9) or 10(-8) M) completely restored AII action during LO blockade. AII also produced an increase in 15-HETE formation, but the 15-LO products had no effect on aldosterone secretion. These studies suggest that the 12-LO pathway plays a key role as a new specific mediator of AII-induced aldosterone secretion.

d-alpha-tocopherol inhibits collagen alpha 1(I) gene expression in cultured human fibroblasts. Modulation of constitutive collagen gene expression by lipid peroxidation.

Ascorbic acid stimulates collagen gene transcription in cultured fibroblasts, and this effect is mediated through the induction of lipid peroxidation by ascorbic acid. Quiescent cultured fibroblasts in the absence of ascorbic acid have a high constitutive level of collagen production, but the mechanisms of collagen gene regulation in this unstimulated state are not known. Because lipid peroxidation also occurs in normal cells, we wondered if lipid peroxidation plays a role in the regulation of basal collagen gene expression. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation in cultured human fibroblasts with d-alpha-tocopherol or methylene blue decreased the synthesis of collagen, the steady-state levels of procollagen alpha 1(I) mRNA and the transcription of the procollagen alpha 1(I) gene. This effect on collagen gene expression was selective and not associated with cellular toxicity. Thus, these experiments suggest a role for lipid peroxidation in the modulation of constitutive collagen gene expression.

Increased leukotriene B4 synthesis in immune injured rat glomeruli.

We examined glomerular synthesis of the 5-lipoxygenase metabolite, LTB4, in normal and immune-injured rat glomeruli. Glomeruli isolated from normal rats and from rats with nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NSN), passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) and cationic bovine gamma globulin (CBGG)-induced glomerulonephritis were incubated with the calcium ionophore A23187 (3 microM). Lipids in the glomeruli and media were extracted with ethyl acetate, and were purified and fractionated by HPLC. Immunoreactive-LTB4 (i-LTB4) was determined by radioimmunoassay on HPLC fractions with a detection limit of 50 pg of i-LTB4. A large peak of i-LTB4 that comigrated with authentic LTB4 was found exclusively in glomeruli isolated from the CBGG-injected rats. Addition of the lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C (50 micrograms/ml) to glomerular incubation resulted in greater than 90% inhibition of i-LTB4. Synthesis of i-LTB4 by glomeruli from normal, NSN and PHN rats was undetectable. Glomerular LTB4 synthesis by CBGG-injected rats was confirmed by radiometric HPLC and by gas chromatography mass-spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. In order to rule out synthesis of LTB4 by neutrophils entrapped in the glomeruli, a group of rats received 1,000 rad total body x irradiation, with shielding of the kidneys before induction of CBGG glomerulonephritis. Despite greater than 95% reduction in total leukocyte count, glomerular synthesis of LTB4 remained enhanced. Augmented glomerular synthesis of the proinflammatory lipid, LTB4, in the CBGG model of glomerular disease could have an important role in the development of glomerular injury and proteinuria.

Exaggerated atrial arachidonate metabolism in rabbit left ventricular myocardial infarction.

Isolated perfused rabbit hearts that have previously been subjected to in vivo left ventricular myocardial infarction respond to N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) or bradykinin (BK) administration with the synthesis of large quantities of eicosanoids. To anatomically localize these synthetic responses we studied the effects of fMLP and BK on eicosanoid synthesis in isolated atria and isolated perfused ventricles from normal and infarcted (4 d in vivo) rabbit hearts. These studies revealed that enhanced agonist-stimulated eicosanoid synthesis occurs largely in the right atria of infarcted hearts, a site distant from the zone of injury. Studies of exogenous arachidonate metabolism in microsomes prepared from various regions of the heart showed that while prostaglandin synthetic capacity is preferentially localized to the right atrium, right atria from normal and infarcted hearts have similar thromboxane and PGE2 synthetic capacity. These results demonstrate that enhanced agonist-stimulated eicosanoid synthesis following rabbit left ventricular myocardial infarction occurs largely in the right atrium, and that this effect is independent of the activity of prostaglandin synthetic enzymes.

Effects of ketoconazole on the proliferation and cell cycle of human cancer cell lines.

The growth-inhibitory effects of ketoconazole, an antifungal agent which inhibits arachidonic acid lipoxygenases and cytochrome P-450 enzymes, were tested in human colon and breast cancer cell lines. In the serum independent HT29-S-B6 colon cell clone, ketoconazole reduced cell proliferation and [3H]thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent fashion, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of approximately 2.5 microM. Flow cytometry showed an accumulation of cells in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle and a concomitant decrease of the percentage of cells in S phase. Ketoconazole also inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation in the hormone-independent breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and Evsa-T, with respective 50% inhibitory concentration of approximately 13 and 2 microM. The mechanism of action of ketoconazole is unknown. However, another lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755C, inhibited only weakly [3H]-thymidine incorporation and accumulated the cells in S and G2. Conversely, clotrimazole and SKF525A, inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 enzymes, had effects similar to those of ketoconazole on HT29-S-B6 cells whereas metronidazole and secnidazole, other azole derivatives which do not inhibit cytochrome P-450 enzymes, had no effect. The results suggest that cytochrome P-450 enzyme(s) activity(ies) could be implicated in the antiproliferative effects of ketoconazole.

Eicosanoid-dependent and -independent formation of individual [14C]stearoyl-labelled lysophospholipids in collagen-stimulated human platelets.

Low level collagen activation of platelets is mediated via the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids and the formation of thromboxane A2 (TxA2). To assess the specific phospholipids undergoing deacylation via phospholipase A2 thereby providing source(s) of releasable AA, we have measured the individual lysophospholipid formations in platelets prelabelled with [14C]stearic acid and incubated with a low level (2 micrograms/ml) or a high level (10 micrograms/ml) of collagen in the absence or presence of BW755C, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities. Collagen activation resulted in the generation of [14C]stearoyl-labelled lysophosphatidylinositol (lysoPI), lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (lysoPE) and lysophosphatidylserine. BW755C significantly inhibited these collagen-induced changes, suggesting that much of the lysophospholipid, and therefore AA release, was eicosanoid-mediated. At the lower level of collagen, considerable generation of [14C]lysoPE was maintained even in the presence of BW755C, suggesting an eicosanoid-independent degradation of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. The TxA2-dependent release of AA was also investigated in U-46619-stimulated platelets. This TxA2 mimetic induced considerable formation of the 14C-labelled lysophospholipids, including lysoPI and lysoPC, but not lysoPE. These results suggest that an eicosanoid-independent degradation of phosphatidylethanolamine via phospholipase A2 at lower collagen levels may provide a source of the initial AA for conversion to TxA2 and the subsequent deacylation of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, and also phosphatidylserine.

Mechanism of arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ mobilization from rat liver microsomes.

Recent evidence indicates that unesterified arachidonic acid functions as a mediator of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by inducing Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum of pancreatic islet beta cells in a manner closely similar to that of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. To test the generality and explore the mechanism of this phenomenon we have examined the effects of arachidonic acid on calcium accumulation and release by hepatocyte subcellular fractions enriched in endoplasmic reticulum (microsomes). At concentrations above 0.017 mumol/mg microsomal protein, arachidonate induced rapid (under 2 min) 45Ca2+ release from microsomes that had been preloaded with 45Ca2+. Arachidonate also suppressed microsomal 45Ca2+ accumulation when present during the loading period, as reflected by reduction both of 45Ca2+ accumulation at steady state and of the rate of uptake. Neither the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin nor the lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase inhibitor BW755C suppressed arachidonate-induced 45Ca2+ release, indicating that this effect was not dependent upon oxygenation of the fatty acid to metabolites. The long-chain unsaturated fatty acids oleate and linoleate were less potent than arachidonate in inducing 45Ca2+ release, and the saturated fatty acid stearate did not exert this effect. Albumin prevented 45Ca2+ release by arachidonate, presumably by binding the fatty acid. As is the case for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, the ability of arachidonate to induce 45Ca2+ release was dependent on the ambient free Ca2+ concentration. Arachidonate did not influence microsomal membrane permeability or Ca2+-ATPase activity and may exert its effects on microsomal Ca2+ handling by activation of a Ca2+ extrusion mechanism or by dissociating Ca2+ uptake from Ca2+-ATPase activity.

BW755C inhibits the 5-lipoxygenase in E-mast cells without affecting degranulation.

The inhibitory effect of the drug BW755C on the 5-lipoxygenase pathway was analyzed for bone marrow-derived murine mast cells, termed E-mast cells. The drug prevented the formation of 5-HETE from exogenous [14C]arachidonic acid when IgE-sensitized cells were challenged by the antigen. BW755C also prevented formation of leukotriene C4 in a dose-dependent fashion when IgE-sensitized mast cells, preincubated with the drug, were activated with either the specific antigen or the ionophore. Leukotriene C4 inhibition occurred with a minimal drug preincubation period of 1 min before the cells were subjected to antigen-dependent activation. BW755C did not affect the degranulation response of these cells. Thus in an intact cell system BW755C prevents 5-lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid. Furthermore, this study reveals that even with transmembrane activation of E-mast cells through their IgE-Fc receptors, granule secretion is not dependent upon corresponding metabolites from the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.

Measurement of arachidonic acid liberation in thrombin-stimulated human platelets. Use of agents that inhibit both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes.

The formation of radiolabelled oxygenated products of arachidonic acid in thrombin-stimulated, [3H]arachidonic acid-prelabelled human platelets is inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by BW 755C (3-amino-1-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline) or propyl gallate, both of which are combined inhibitors of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase. These compounds do not inhibit the thrombin-induced decrease in the radioactivity of platelet phospholipids but, instead, allow the accumulation of free radiolabelled arachidonic acid. Thrombin causes an increase in the levels of free, endogenous palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids of up to 10 nmol/10(9) platelets. In the presence of BW 755C or propyl gallate, further increases in the level of free arachidonic acid, of 20-50 nmol/10(9) platelets, occur. The enzyme inhibitors do not affect the accumulation of the other free fatty acids. The increase in arachidonic acid is optimal at 1 U/ml thrombin and 60% complete by 1 min at 37 degrees C. In the platelets from eight donors, the average increases in free fatty acids (in nmol/10(9) platelets) induced by 5 U/ml thrombin in 5 min at 37 degrees C in the presence of 100 microM BW 755C were 1 for linoleic acid, 3.6 for oleic acid, 4.5 for palmitic acid, 7.6 for stearic acid and 32.0 for arachidonic acid.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in isolated pancreatic islets. III. Effects of exogenous lipoxygenase products and inhibitors on insulin secretion.

Isolated pancreatic islets from the rat have been demonstrated by stable isotope dilution-mass spectrometric methods to synthesize the 12-lipoxygenase product 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) in amounts of 1.7 to 2.8 ng per 10(3) islets. No detectable amounts of 5-HETE and only trace amounts of 15-HETE could be demonstrated by these methods. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and BW755C have been demonstrated to inhibit islet 12-HETE synthesis and also to inhibit glucose-induced insulin secretion. Inhibition of insulin secretion and of 12-HETE synthesis exhibited similar dependence on the concentration of these compounds. Eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetrynoic acid (ETYA) also inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion, as previously reported, at concentrations which inhibit islet 12-HETE synthesis. Exogenous 12-HETE partially reversed the suppression of glucose-induced insulin secretion by lipoxygenase inhibitors, but exogenous 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE), 15-HPETE, 5-HPETE, 15-HETE, or 5-HETE did not reverse this suppression. These observations argue against the recently suggested hypothesis that islet synthesis of 5-HETE modulates insulin secretion. Suppression of glucose-induced insulin secretion by ETYA, BW755C and NDGA may be due to inhibition of the islet 12-lipoxygenase by these compounds. The possibility that other processes involved in glucose-induced insulin secretion are inhibited by ETYA, BW755C and NDGA cannot yet be excluded.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibits urokinase synthesis by phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated LLC-PK1 cells.

Protein kinase C (PKC) activation is regulated by Ca2+, phospholipids, diacylglycerol (DAG) and fatty acids. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) which mimics the effect of DAG on PKC induces transcriptional activation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) gene in LLC-PK1 cells. We examined in the present work the relationships between PKC activity, fatty acids, and u-PA synthesis in this cell line. We showed that H7, an inhibitor of PKC, inhibited the PMA-induced u-PA synthesis by LLC-PK1 cells. PMA-induced u-PA synthesis was enhanced by eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), a competitive inhibitor of both the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways and inhibited by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of the lipoxygenase pathway. Three other unrelated lipoxygenase inhibitors (phenidone 100 microM, BW755 50 microM and diethylcarbamazine 50 microM) had no effect on u-PA biosynthesis. Two polyunsaturated fatty acids other than ETYA, arachidonic acid and linoleic acid, also potentiated the PMA effect and a lipoxygenase derivative, 12 hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12 HETE), did not modify the basal and PMA-stimulated u-PA syntheses. PKC activity purified from cytosol of LLC-PK1 cells was stimulated by addition of 16 nM PMA in vitro and this effect was blunted by simultaneous addition of 5 microM NDGA. By Northern blot analysis using a pig u-PA cDNA probe we found that PMA increased the steady state level of u-PA mRNA after 2 h of incubation and that NDGA inhibited this effect. These data suggest that NDGA inhibits PMA-stimulated PKC activity in intact cells leading to a decrease of u-PA mRNA level and u-PA biosynthesis in PMA-stimulated LLC-PK1 cells. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have opposite effects.

Arachidonic acid release in BW755C-pretreated rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated with A23187, concanavalin A and compound 48/80.

Rat peritoneal mast cells respond to various secretagogues, such as ionophore A23187, concanavalin A (Ig E receptor cross-bridging) and compound 48/80 (membrane perturbing), to secrete histamine and to liberate arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid release was made identifiable by pretreatment with BW755C, an inhibitor of both lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase. The extent of arachidonic acid release varied among these three secretagogues. A23187 appeared to be most potent, whereas compound 48/80 was weakest. The sources of released arachidonic acids may be different depending on the types of stimulants. The stimulation with A23187 released arachidonic acid mainly from phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol. After treatment with concanavalin A and compound 48/80, in addition to phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol also appeared to serve as a donor of arachidonic acid.

Leukotriene synthesis by human gastrointestinal tissues.

The prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesizing capacity of human gastrointestinal tissues obtained at surgery was investigated using radioimmunoassay for prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes. The leukotriene immunoassay data were validated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). During incubation at 37 degrees C, fragments of human gastric, jejuno-ileal and colonic mucosa released considerably larger amounts of prostaglandin E2 than of leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes. Gastrointestinal smooth muscle tissues released even larger amounts of prostaglandin E2, but smaller amounts of leukotrienes than the corresponding mucosal tissues. Adenocarcinoma tissue released larger amounts of leukotriene B4, sulfidopeptide leukotrienes and prostaglandin E2 than normal colonic mucosa. Ionophore A23187 (5 micrograms/ml) did not stimulate release of prostaglandin E2 from any of the tissues investigated, but enhanced release of leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes. HPLC analysis demonstrated that immunoreactive leukotriene B4 co-chromatographed almost exclusively with standard leukotriene B4, while immunoreactive sulfidopeptide leukotrienes consisted of a mixture of leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4. Leukotriene synthesis by human gastrointestinal tissues was inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and the dual enzyme inhibitor BW755C (3-amino-1-(trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-pyrazoline hydrochloride). Synthesis of prostaglandin E2 was inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin as well as by BW755C. Incubation of gastrointestinal tissues in the presence of glutathione decreased the amounts of leukotrienes D4 and E4, while release of leukotriene C4 was simultaneously increased. On the other hand, incubation of tritiated leukotriene C4 with incubation media from human gastric or colonic mucosa resulted in conversion of the substrate to [3H]leukotriene D4 and [3H]leukotriene E4. The results indicate the capacity of human gastrointestinal tissues to synthesize the 5-lipoxygenase-derived products of arachidonate metabolism, leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes, in addition to larger amounts of prostaglandin E2. Furthermore, considerable activities of the sulfidopeptide leukotriene-metabolizing enzymes gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and dipeptidase were detected in human gastrointestinal tissues. These enzymes might play an important role in biological inactivation and/or change of biological profile of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes generated in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Evidence of Ca2+ mobilizing action of arachidonic acid in human platelets.

The addition of arachidonic acid induced a rapid release of 45Ca2+ from human platelet membrane vesicles which accumulated 45Ca2+ in the presence of ATP. Docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, linolenic acid and linoleic acid were less active than arachidonic acid. In contrast, oleic acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid were without effect. The thromboxane A2 analogue induced no 45Ca2+ release. The cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor failed to suppress arachidonic acid-induced 45Ca2+ release at the concentration which inhibited the production of lipid peroxides. These data indicate that the activity of arachidonic acid may be due to fatty acid itself and not to its metabolites. The combination of arachidonic acid and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) resulted in a greater 45Ca2+ release from platelet membrane vesicles than either compound alone. When the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured using fura-2, the thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i increase was reduced in platelets which had been treated with a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, ONO-RS-082 (2-(p-amylcinnamoyl)amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid). These results provide evidence that arachidonic acid alone may cause Ca2+ increase and also may induce an additional Ca2+ mobilization to IP3-induced Ca2+ release in human platelets.