Arylsulfatase B of human lung. Isolation, characterization, and interaction with slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

Arylsulfatase B was separated from arylsulfatase A in extracts of human lung tissue by anion exchange chromatography and further purified by gel filtration and cation exchange chromatography. Arylsulfatase B of human lung was similar to that enzyme in other tissues and species, exhibiting an apparent mol wt of approximately 60,000, a pH optimum for cleavage of 4-nitrocatechol sulfate (pNCS) of 5.5-6.0, and a sensitivity to inhibition by phosphate ions and especially pyrophosphate in the presence of NaCl. Human lung arylsulfatase B inactivated slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxix (SRS-A) in a linear time-dependent reaction in which the rate was determined by the enzyme-to-substrate ratio. Cleavage of pNCS by human lung arylsulfatase B was competitively suppressed by SRS-A. The finding that human lung tissue contains predominately arylsulfatase B discloses a potential regulatory mechanism for inactivation of SRS-A at or near the site of its generation.

Specific receptors for leukotriene C4 on a smooth muscle cell line.

Specific receptors for leukotriene C4 (LTC4) have been identified on an intact smooth muscle cell line, DDT1 MF-2 cells derived from the Syrian hamster vas deferens. Specific [3H]LTC4 binding at a fixed input at 4 degrees C was rapid, reached a plateau at 86% of total binding at 60 min, and was reversible upon addition of excess homoligand. With incremental inputs of radioligand and a constant cell number, specific [3H]LTC4 binding reached a plateau indicative of saturable binding sites. LIGAND analysis of the Scatchard plot demonstrated a single high affinity binding site with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 5 nM. With incremental inputs of unlabeled LTC4, LIGAND analysis of the Scatchard plot demonstrated a single high affinity site with a Kd of 4.4 nM and in some experiments an additional low affinity site with a Kd of 634 nM. The myotonically active structural analogues of LTC4, 5(R),6(S)-LTC4, 11-trans-LTC4, and C1-monoamide-LTC4, competed effectively with radiolabeled LTC4 such that the relative Kd values of these heteroligands were within one log of that of the homoligand. In contrast, the other native sulfidopeptide leukotrienes, leukotriene D4 and leukotriene E4, exhibited relative Kd values that were 2-3 logs less than that of LTC4. Thus, the high affinity receptor on the DDT1 smooth muscle cell line is specific for a single constituent, LTC4, of slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

Preservation of the glomerular capillary ultrafiltration coefficient during rat nephrotoxic serum nephritis by a specific leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist.

Leukotriene D4, a potent biologically active lipoxygenase derivative of arachidonic acid in activated leukocytes, depresses the glomerular capillary ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) and contracts mesangial cells in culture. We therefore investigated its potential role in mediating the reduction in nephron filtration rate seen after induction of experimental nephrotoxic serum (NTS)-induced glomerulonephritis in the rat. Micropuncture measurements were performed in euvolemic Munich-Wistar rats 2 h after i.v. administration of 0.8 ml of rabbit serum (group 1, n = 6), 0.8 ml of rabbit anti-rat glomerular basement membrane antibody in the absence (group 2, n = 8), or presence (group 3, n = 7) of the new highly specific LTD4 receptor antagonist SK&F 104353. Quantitation of antibody binding and neutrophil infiltration revealed no differences between groups 2 and 3. Antagonism of endogenous LTD4 actions, however, was associated with prevention of the NTS-induced fall in SNGFR because of the abrogation of the fall in Kf which characterizes this form of experimental glomerulonephritis. Antagonism of endogenous LTD4 had no effect on the NTS-induced increases in pre- and postglomerular arteriolar resistances, and did not affect nephron plasma flow rate or net transcapillary hydraulic pressure difference. The observed highly localized protective action of the LTD4 antagonist on the glomerular capillary points to a possibly major functional role for intraglomerularly released LTD4, likely originating from infiltrating leukocytes, in the pathophysiology of this form of glomerulonephritis.

Effects of acetyl glyceryl ether of phosphorylcholine (platelet activating factor) on ventricular preload, afterload, and contractility in dogs.

Acetyl glyceryl ether of phosphorylcholine (AGEPC), platelet activating factor, is a potent hypotensive agent that may mediate changes in blood pressure during anaphylaxis and may be involved in blood pressure variations of renal origin. This study was designed to characterize the hemodynamic mechanisms responsible for hypotension induced by this recently identified phospholipid. Intravenous administration of AGEPC to anesthetized open-chest dogs (n = 5) produced hemodynamic alterations which, for the purpose of analysis, were divided into three phases based on changes in the mean systemic blood pressure. During phase I (5-30 s) mean systemic blood pressure decreased to levels 5 to 10% below baseline values in association with a rise in cardiac output and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. Phase II (30-90 s) consisted of a substantial reduction in systemic blood pressure to its nadir, 50% of baseline values, together with a decrease of similar magnitude in cardiac output and a rise in systemic vascular resistance. Phase III (90 s-60 min) exhibited a gradual recovery of mean systemic blood pressure toward normal with a several-fold rise in systemic vascular resistance and a continued low cardiac output. On the right side of the circulation, the predominant effect of AGEPC was a marked transient increase in pulmonary artery pressure in phase I, associated with an elevation of pulmonary resistance during phase II. Diethylcarbamazine blocked virtually all of these hemodynamic changes induced by AGEPC; FPL 55712 substantially blocked the rise in systemic vascular resistance in phase III. These results suggest that leukotrienes may mediate at least some of the hemodynamic effects induced by AGEPC, but further studies will be required when more specific leukotriene blocking agents become available. As assessed during phase III with the end-systolic pressure-dimension relation, myocardial performance itself was diminished. The occurrence of an AGEPC-induced negative inotropic effect was further confirmed in isolated Krebs-perfused guinea pig hearts and isolated blood-perfused rabbit hearts. The results indicate that the mechanism of AGEPC-induced hypotension is complex, affecting both vascular tone and the inotropic state of the myocardium.

Ionophore and arachidonic acid stimulation of airway responses in rhesus monkeys.

Aerosolized doses of the ionophore, A23187, and arachidonic acid individually resulted in no airway response in rhesus monkeys. When these two agents were given simultaneously, by aerosol, an airway response occurred. The pulmonary function abnormalities that occurred qualitatively simulated those of an antigen-induced airway response. This is the first demonstration in our laboratory of two agents which singly will not produce a response but which are reactive when delivered in combination. Other fatty acids did not produce a similar response. The response to A23187 and arachidonic acid occurred only in rhesus monkeys from our colony which had been demonstrated to have airway responses to aerosolized antigen challenge, a response shown previously to be associated with hyperreactive airways to pharmacologic stimuli. The A23187 and arachidonic acid response was inhibited by aerosolized 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. Further, indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway, inhibited the response, although previous studies showed that this drug will potentiate an antigen-induced response in this animal model of asthma. The slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis antagonist, FPL 55712, did not inhibit the A23187-arachidonic acid response under the conditions of these experiments. The mechanism of the A23187-arachidonic acid airway response in rhesus monkeys may or may not be the same as the antigen-induced response.

Leukotriene D4 is a mediator of proteinuria and glomerular hemodynamic abnormalities in passive Heymann nephritis.

We assessed the role of leukotrienes (LTs) in Munich-Wistar rats with passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), an animal model of human membranous nephropathy. 10 d after injection of anti-Fx1A antibody, urinary protein excretion rate (Upr) in PHN was significantly higher than that of control. Micropuncture studies demonstrated reduced single nephron plasma flow and glomerular filtration rates, increased transcapillary hydraulic pressure difference, pre- and postglomerular resistances, and decreased ultrafiltration coefficient in PHN rats. Glomerular LTB4 generation from PHN rats was increased. Administration of the 5-LO activating protein inhibitor MK886 for 10 d markedly blunted proteinuria and normalized glomerular hemodynamic abnormalities in PHN rats. An LTD4 receptor antagonist SK&F 104353 led to an immediate reduction in Upr and to reversal of glomerular hemodynamic impairment. Ia(+) cells/glomerulus were increased in PHN rats. In x-irradiated PHN rats, which developed glomerular macrophage depletion, augmented glomerular LT synthesis was abolished. Thus, in the autologous phase of PHN, LTD4 mediates glomerular hemodynamic abnormalities and a hemodynamic component of the accompanying proteinuria. The synthesis of LTD4 likely occurs directly from macrophages or from macrophage-derived LTA4, through LTC4 synthase in glomerular cells.

Prevention of Ca(2+)-induced or thromboxane B2-induced hepatocyte plasma membrane bleb formation by thromboxane receptor antagonists.

Isolated hepatocytes incubated in the presence of either Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or thromboxane B2 develop many plasma membrane blebs which are a characteristic feature of toxic or ischaemic cell injury. When hepatocytes are incubated in the presence of both Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and any one of three thromboxane receptor antagonists (SK and F 88046, B.M. 13505, B.M. 13177), bleb formation is strongly inhibited. Hepatocytes incubated in the presence of both thromboxane B2 and any one of the three thromboxane receptor antagonists are also well protected from the formation of blebs. Treatment of isolated hepatocytes with Ca2+ ionophore A23187 is known to stimulate the production of thromboxanes. The data presented are consistent with thromboxane B2 acting as an intermediary in a proposed mechanism of cell injury and death in which elevated cytosolic free Ca2+ levels activate phospholipase A2 and the arachidonate cascade.

Adenosine and leukotrienes have a regulatory role in lung surfactant secretion in the newborn rabbit.

Previous studies have shown that secretion of phosphatidylcholine in cultured adult rat type II pneumocytes is stimulated by purinoceptor agonists and leukotrienes. The objective of the present study was to determine if such agents have a physiological role in the regulation of surfactant secretion. We chose the newborn rabbit as the experimental model, since in this system there is a marked increase in surfactant secretion immediately after birth. We examined the effects of an inhibitor of leukotriene biosynthesis, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, two leukotriene antagonists, FPL-55712 and FPL-57231, and a P1 purinoceptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline, on this increase. Newborn rabbits were delivered by Cesarean section at 30 days gestation. Some animals in each litter were killed immediately, while others were injected with test agents or solvent vehicle while still in the amniotic sacs. After breathing for 3 h in an incubator, these animals were also killed. The lungs were lavaged with saline and the phospholipid content and composition of the lung lavage liquid was measured. In control animals, there was a greater than 2-fold increase in the amounts of total phospholipid and phosphatidylcholine and in the phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin ratio during the 3 h period of breathing. The increases in total phospholipid and phosphatidylcholine were decreased 38-62% by the antagonists, while the increase in the phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin ratio was decreased 61-77%. These data show that the ventilation-induced increase in secretion of lung surfactant in the newborn rabbit is inhibited by leukotriene and P1 receptor antagonists and by an inhibitor of leukotriene biosynthesis and, when taken together with the data from the tissue culture system, support a role for leukotrienes and adenosine in the physiological regulation of surfactant secretion.

Acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (PAF-acether) and leukotriene B4-mediated neutrophil chemotaxis through an intact endothelial cell monolayer.

Human endothelial cell monolayers were grown on nucleopore filters, and used to partition the two halves of a modified Boyden chamber. Human neutrophil chemotaxis through the monolayer was studied in response to leukotriene B4 and acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (PAF-acether). Both leukotriene B4 and PAF-acether concentration-dependently stimulated neutrophil chemotaxis through intact monolayer. The biologically inactive lyso-PAF, and leukotriene C4 and D4 were inactive as chemotactic agents. Leukotriene A4 was weakly chemotactic. In the absence of chemotaxin, little penetration of the monolayer by neutrophils was observed. Agents that elevate neutrophil cyclic AMP levels inhibit both leukotriene B4 and PAF-acether-stimulated chemotaxis through the endothelial cell monolayer. The specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, 6,8-de-epoxy-6,9-(phenylimino) delta 6,8-prostaglandin I1 (U-60257), inhibits PAF-acether, but not leukotriene B4-mediated chemotaxis. These data suggest that an intact 5-lipoxygenase may be required for normal PAF-acether-mediated chemotaxis, but leukotriene B4-mediated chemotaxis is independent of 5-lipoxygenase activity. This system may prove to be a useful model for the study of neutrophil-endothelial cell interactions.

Leukotriene C4 modulation of muscarinic K+ current activation in bullfrog atrial myocytes.

The effects of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) on activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR)-stimulated, inwardly rectifying K+ current (IK[ACh]) were examined in single bullfrog atrial myocytes using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. LTC4 produced a reversible, concentration-dependent increase in steady-state, guanosine-gamma-thiotriphosphate (GTP gamma S)-activated IK[ACh], with a K0.5 of 3.1 microM. LTC4 also increased the rate of GTP gamma S-mediated IK[ACh] activation, both in the absence and presence of 1 nM ACh, with comparable K0.5 values of 4.7 microM under basal conditions and 4.9 microM in the presence of 1 nM ACh. LTC4 did not alter the relative affinities of the G protein, Gk, for GTP gamma S and GTP. We hypothesize that all of the effects of LTC4 on the kinetics of Gk-mediated IK[ACh] activation are produced at a common site with a K0.5 of 3-5 microM. The effects of LTC4 on IK[ACh] activation are fully reversible in the presence of GTP gamma S. Under physiological conditions (i.e., intracellular GTP), 10 microM LTC4 increased the ACh-activated peak IK[ACh]. Inhibitors of cellular LTC4 production, including 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, baicalein, cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-alpha-cyanocinnamate, and alpha-pentyl-4-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)-benzene methanol, greatly attenuated ACh-dependent IK[ACh] activation, preventing activation of peak, and producing a lower steady-state IK[ACh] (when compared with the control response in the same cell). Addition of exogenous LTC4 was able to overcome the effects of LTC4 synthesis inhibitors, restoring both the peak and steady-state IK[ACh] responses. Although the mechanism of LTC4-mediated modulation of IK[ACh] activation is not known, our results suggest that endogenously produced lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid, specifically LTC4, are involved in the physiological process of IK[ACh] activation.

Modulation of rabbit ventricular cell volume and Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport by cGMP and atrial natriuretic factor.

Previously we showed that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) decreases cardiac cell volume by inhibiting ion uptake by Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport. Digital video microscopy was used to study the role of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) in this process in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Each cell served as its own control, and relative cell volumes (volume(test)/volume(control)) were determined. Exposure to 10 microM 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP) reversibly decreased cell volume to 0.892 +/- 0.007; the ED50 was 0.77 +/- 0.33 microM. Activating guanylate cyclase with 100 microM sodium nitroprusside also decreased cell volume to 0.889 +/- 0.009. In contrast, 8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-AMP; 0.01-100 microM) neither altered cell volume directly nor modified the response to 8-Br-cGMP. The idea that cGMP decreases cell volume by inhibiting Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport was tested by blocking the cotransporter with 10 microM bumetanide (BUM) and removing the transported ions. After BUM treatment, 10 microM 8-Br-cGMP failed to decrease cell volume. Replacement of Na+ with N-methyl-D-glucamine or Cl- with methanesulfonate also prevented 8-Br-cGMP from shrinking cells. The data suggest that 8-Br-cGMP, like ANF, decreases ventricular cell volume by inhibiting Na+/K+/2Cl-cotransport. Evidence that ANF modulates cell volume via cGMP was also obtained. Pretreatment with 10 microM 8-Br-cGMP prevented the effect of 1 microM ANF on cell volume, and ANF suppressed 8-Br-cGMP-induced cell shrinkage. Inhibiting guanylate cyclase with the quinolinedione LY83583 (10 microM) diminished ANF-induced cell shrinkage, and inhibiting cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase with M&B22948 (Zaprinast; 100 microM) amplified the volume decrease caused by a low dose of ANF (0.01 microM) approximately fivefold. In contrast, neither 100 microM 8-Br-cAMP nor 50 microM forskolin affected the response to ANF. The effects of ANF, LY83583, and M&B29948 on cGMP levels in isolated ventricular myocytes were confirmed by 125I-cGMP radioimmunoassay. These data argue that ANF shrinks cardiac cells by increasing intracellular cGMP, thereby inhibiting Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport. Basal cGMP levels also appear to modulate cell volume.

Comparison of leukotriene B4 and D4 effects on human eosinophil and neutrophil motility in vitro.

The motility of isolated normal human peripheral blood eosinophils and neutrophils in response to exogenous leukotrienes B4 and D4 was examined by means of a modified under-agarose technique and a novel quantitative sampling strategy. Leukotriene D4 was a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils, with a significant threshold chemotactic effect evident at 10(-10) M. The abolition of eosinophil chemotaxis by the potent and selective peptide-leukotriene-antagonist SK&F 104353 indicated the pharmacological specificity of the leukotriene D4-induced response. The chemokinetic response of eosinophils to leukotriene D4 generally did not differ significantly from spontaneous migratory activity of unstimulated cells. Leukotriene D4 did not, however, alter directed neutrophil motility until a very high concentration (10(-5) M) was achieved, although significant neutrophil chemokinesis relative to unstimulated movement was observed over the tested concentration range. Directional emigration of both eosinophils and neutrophils was induced by leukotriene B4 at concentrations as low as 10(-8) M. Analysis of leukocyte orientations provided evidence that chemokinetic responses were not being interpreted as indications of chemotactic behavior. These studies suggest that leukotriene D4 may behave as a potent and selective chemoattractant for human eosinophils at physiologically relevant concentrations.

Effects of inhibition of lipoxygenase and guanylate cyclase on human neutrophil responses to formyl peptide and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Human neutrophils were activated by the bacterial chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) to produce superoxide (O2-) and to release the primary granule enzyme beta-glucuronidase and the predominantly secondary granule enzyme lysozyme. Pretreatment with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) increased the secretion of all three substances upon addition of fMLP. The augmentation by GM-CSF was significantly attenuated by the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor AA861 and by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor LY83583. The secretion induced by fMLP alone was much less affected by either of the two inhibitors. AA861 inhibited leukotriene B4 production in neutrophils primed with GM-CSF and stimulated with fMLP, and LY83583 inhibited GM-CSF-evoked increases of 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate. The data suggest that activation of lipoxygenase and guanylate cyclase is not critical to the fMLP stimulation pathway, but they may be important components of the pathway by which GM-CSF augments neutrophil responses to fMLP. However, AA861 and LY83583 may have important actions in addition to inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and guanylate cyclase.

Cyclic GMP and guanylate cyclase mediate lipopolysaccharide-induced Kupffer cell tumor necrosis factor-alpha synthesis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important mediator in sepsis and septic shock. Kupffer cells (KCs) are the resident macrophages of the liver and are potent producers of TNF-alpha in response to inflammatory stimuli such as bacterial endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although the effects of exogenous cytokines such as interferon-gamma on TNF-alpha production by macrophages have been fairly well studied, the intracellular pathways regulating KC TNF-alpha synthesis are largely unknown. We investigated the role of guanylate cyclase and cGMP in LPS-induced KC TNF-alpha synthesis. Exogenous 8-BrcGMP and dbcGMP increased LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis but had no effect on KC TNF-alpha in the absence of LPS. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide-releasing substance that stimulates guanylate cyclase, increased TNF-alpha synthesis in response to LPS, whereas methylene blue and LY83583, guanylate cyclase inhibitors, decreased KC TNF-alpha synthesis. The inhibitory effect of methylene blue could be overcome with exogenous dbcGMP or SNP. Our results demonstrate that guanylate cyclase and cGMP mediate LPS-induced KC TNF-alpha synthesis and suggest that agents that alter cyclic nucleotide metabolism in KCs may affect the response of these cells to inflammation and inflammatory stimuli.

Variable effects of human and canine polymorphonuclear leucocytes on vascular smooth muscle tone.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown variable effects of human and canine polymorphonuclear leucocytes (neutrophils) on vascular tone. The aim of this study was to identify whether these variations in neutrophil function are due to species differences. METHODS: Canine and human arterial rings (with and without endothelium) were contracted with the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619, and then exposed to isolated neutrophils. RESULTS: Human neutrophils caused a significant relaxation of the human mammary arterial rings, and the relaxation was unaffected by the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, enhanced by superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inhibited by oxyhaemoglobin. The relaxant effect of human neutrophils was also diminished upon pretreatment with NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA), indicating that the vasorelaxant material released by the neutrophils was nitric oxide (NO). Human neutrophils also relaxed canine femoral arterial rings, and the relaxant effect was potentiated by SOD and inhibited by pretreatment with oxyhaemoglobin or L-NMMA, confirming that the vasorelaxation was via release of NO. Canine neutrophils, on the other hand, caused an endothelium dependent contraction of autologous femoral arterial rings. This vasoconstriction was not affected by indomethacin, SOD, oxyhaemoglobin, or L-NMMA. However, treatment of canine neutrophils with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor piriprost attenuated (p < 0.02) their contractile effect on vascular rings, suggesting that neutrophil generated 5-lipoxygenase products were probably responsible for smooth muscle contraction. Presence of the leukotriene C4 and D4 receptor antagonist FPL 55,712 totally blocked the contractile effects of canine neutrophils, indicating that femoral arterial ring contraction was mediated by peptido-leukotrienes. CONCLUSIONS: The endothelium dependent nature of the canine neutrophil induced contraction suggests that the 5-lipoxygenase product leukotriene A4 is taken up by endothelial cells for conversion to peptido-leukotrienes. Since SOD had no effect and FPL 55,712 totally blocked the vasoconstrictor effects of canine neutrophils, it appears that the vasoconstrictor effects of the latter are mediated primarily through peptido-leukotrienes. In contrast, the vasorelaxation by human neutrophils is mediated through release of NO.

Cyclic GMP regulates free cytosolic calcium in the pancreatic acinar cell.

The present studies were performed in order to measure the effects of cyclic GMP (cGMP) on the regulation of free cytosolic calcium [( Ca2+]i) in the pancreatic acinar cell. In guinea pig dispersed pancreatic acini the findings demonstrated that the Ca2+ ionophore, Br A23187, caused a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i in the presence of 3 mM CaCl2 in the media and a transient 20 fold rise in cellular cGMP followed by a sustained 3-4 fold rise in cellular cGMP. Increasing cellular cGMP with nitroprusside, hydroxylamine or dibutyryl cGMP had no effect on resting [Ca2+]i. However, these agents attenuated the increase in [Ca2+]i resulting from Br A23187-induced Ca2+ influx. Nitroprusside also attenuated the carbachol-induced sustained rise in [Ca2+]i that resulted from Ca2+ influx. The nitroprusside effect on carbachol-stimulated acini occurred without decreasing Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane or alteration in the mobilization of Ca2+ from the intracellular agonist-sensitive pool. Inhibition of the increase in cellular cGMP caused by Br A23187 by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor, 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione (LY83583), resulted in augmentation of the increase in [Ca2+]i. This augmentation was reversed with dibutyryl cGMP. These results indicated that cGMP regulated [Ca2+]i in the pancreatic acinar cell. The mechanism involves the removal of Ca2+ from the cytoplasm.

Assessment of leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists.

Both [3H]LTD4 and [3H]ICI 198,615 bind selectively and with high affinity to LTD4 receptors on guinea pig and human lung membranes. Binding is inhibited by selective LTD4 antagonists. However there may be some advantages for preferring one over the other, which is largely due to the specific experimental design. For example, due to the apparent higher affinity of agonists in the [3H]LTD4 binding assay, one can use this ligand to measure competition by agonists, partial agonists, and to determine the stereoselectivity of LTD4 analogs. The disadvantages are susceptibility to oxidation, double-bond isomerization under acidic condition, metabolism by membrane aminopeptidase, and requirement for optimization of "agonist binding conditions" that may limit the use of this ligand in different tissues (i.e., ileum or brain). [3H]ICI 198,615 does not suffer from these disadvantages and allows the direct determination of potency for structurally diverse antagonists without the necessity to optimize the assay for agonist binding. An additional advantage is the ability to distinguish between agonists and antagonists at the receptor binding level, since only agonists inhibition curves (against [3H]ICI 198,615) are shifted to lower affinity by stable GTP analogs. However, one has to bear in mind that although these binding assays are highly efficient, rapid, and possess high capacity to test antagonist potency and mechanism, they do not provide broad pharmacological information as do functional receptor assays that utilize viable tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aryloxyalkyloxy- and aralkyloxy-4-hydroxy-3-nitrocoumarins which inhibit histamine release in the rat and also antagonize the effects of a slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

The syntheses and structure--activity relationships of a number of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrocoumarins, which are both antagonists of a slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis and potent inhibitors of antigen-induced histamine release in the rat, are described. Most active among these are 7-[3-(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-n-propylphenoxy(-2-hydroxypropoxy] derivatives having hydrogen or lower alkyl substituents at the C-8 position of the coumarin ring, 168, 171, 173, and 174.

Synthesis and LTD4 antagonist activity of 2-norleukotriene analogues.

A series of structural analogues of 4(R)-hydroxy-5(S)-cysteinylglycyl-6(Z)-nonadecenoic acid [4R,5S,6Z)-2-nor-LTD1 (10b), SK&F 101132) has been synthesized and pharmacologically characterized. (4R,5S,6Z)-2-nor-LTD1 significantly antagonized LTD4-induced contractile responses on isolated guinea pig trachea. The cis double-bond geometry appears to be critical for antagonist activity, whereas the trans isomer 17 exhibited weak contractile activity. Replacement of the cysteinylglycyl moiety with cysteine afforded 20, which retained significant antagonist activity, while lengthening or shortening the lipid tail by five methylene groups resulted in complete loss of activity. The eicosanoid amide 15, glycinamide 14, and C-1 carbinol 18 analogues all possessed antagonist activity, whereas the diol derivative 19 exhibited increased intrinsic agonist activity.

Novel 1,3-bis(aryloxy)propanes as leukotriene D4 antagonists.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a number of 1,3-bis(aryloxy)propanes, which are in vivo antagonists of LTD4 in the guinea pig, are described. One of these compounds, 4 (Wy-44,329), was not only approximately equipotent with the standard 1 (FPL 55712) in the LTC4 (ID50 = 0.17 and 0.23 mg/kg iv, respectively) and LTD4 (ID50 = 0.11 and 0.15 mg/kg iv, respectively) challenge models but also possessed greater potency in the ovalbumin challenge model (ID50 = 0.47 mg/kg and 4.1 mg/kg iv, respectively) and a longer duration of action. This compound was a competitive LTD4 antagonist on guinea pig ileum (pA2 = 9.4) and possessed mediator release (rat PCA, ID50 = 0.26 mg/kg iv) and 5-lipoxygenase (IC50 = 32 microM vs. 5-HETE) inhibitory activities.