Enhanced immunosuppression improves early allograft function in a porcine kidney transplant model of donation after circulatory death.

It remains controversial whether renal allografts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) have a higher risk of acute rejection (AR). In the porcine large animal kidney transplant model, we investigated the AR and function of DCD renal allografts compared to the non-DCD renal allografts and the effects of increased immunosuppression. We found that the AR was significantly increased along with elevated MHC-I expression in the DCD transplants receiving low-dose immunosuppression; however, AR and renal function were significantly improved when given high-dose immunosuppressive therapy postoperatively. Also, high-dose immunosuppression remarkably decreased the mRNA levels of ifn-g, il-6, tgf-b, il-4, and tnf-a in the allograft at day 5 and decreased serum cytokines levels of IFN-g and IL-17 at day 4 and day 5 after operation. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that higher immunosuppression decreased phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells-p65, increased phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, and reduced the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3 in the renal allografts. These results suggest that the DCD renal allograft seems to be more vulnerable to AR; enhanced immunosuppression reduces DCD-associated AR and improves early allograft function in a preclinical large animal model.

CD47 blockade reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in donation after cardiac death rat kidney transplantation.

Modulation of nitric oxide activity through blockade of CD47 signaling has been shown to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in various models of tissue ischemia. Here, we evaluate the potential effect of an antibody-mediated CD47 blockade in a syngeneic and an allogeneic DCD rat kidney transplant model. The donor organ was subjected to 1 hour of warm ischemia time after circulatory cessation, then flushed with a CD47 monoclonal antibody (CD47mAb) in the treatment group, or an isotype-matched immunoglobulin in the control group. We found that CD47mAb treatment improved survival rates in both models. Serum markers of renal injury were significantly decreased in the CD47mAb-treated group compared with the control group. Histologically the CD47mAb-treated group had significantly reduced scores of acute tubular injury and acute tubular necrosis. The expression of biomarkers related to mitochondrial stress and apoptosis also were significantly lower in the CD47mAb-treated groups. Overall, the protective effects of CD47 blockade were greater in the syngeneic model. Our data show that CD47mAb blockade decreased the IRI of DCD kidneys in rat transplant models. This therapy has the potential to improve DCD kidney transplant outcomes in the human setting.

Anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody therapy reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury of renal allografts in a porcine model of donation after cardiac death.

We investigated whether blockade of the CD47 signaling pathway could reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of renal allografts donated after cardiac death (DCD) in a porcine animal model of transplantation. Renal allografts were subjected to 30 minutes of warm ischemia, 3.5 hours of cold ischemia, and then perfused with a humanized anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (CD47mAb) in the treatment group or HTK solution in the control group (n = 4/group). The animals were euthanized five days after transplantation. At the time of reperfusion, indocyanine green-based in vivo imaging showed that CD47mAb-treated organs had greater and more uniform reperfusion. On post-transplant days 3-5, the treatment group had lower values compared to the control for creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Histological examination of allograft tissues showed a significant decrease of acute tubular injury in the CD47mAb-treated group compared to control. Compared to the control group, CD47mAb treatment significantly decreased genes expression related to oxidative stress (sod-1, gpx-1, and txn), the inflammatory response (il-2, il-6, inf-g, and tgf-b), as well as reduced protein levels of BAX, Caspase-3, MMP2, and MMP9. These data demonstrate that CD47mAb blockade decreases IRI and subsequent tissue injury in DCD renal allografts in a large animal transplant model.

CD47 blockade reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury and improves survival in a rat liver transplantation model.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains the standard treatment option for nonresponsive liver failure. Because ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important impediment to the success of OLT, new therapeutic strategies are needed to reduce IRI. We investigated whether blocking the CD47/thrombospondin-1 inhibitory action on nitric oxide signaling with a monoclonal antibody specific to CD47 (CD47mAb400) would reduce IRI in liver grafts. Syngeneic OLT was performed with Lewis rats. Control immunoglobulin G or CD47mAb400 was administered to the donor organ at procurement or to both the organ and the recipient at the time of transplant. Serum transaminases, histological changes of the liver, and animal survival were assessed. Oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and hepatocellular damage were also quantified. A significant survival benefit was not achieved when CD47mAb400 was administered to the donor alone. However, CD47mAb400 administration to both the donor and the recipient increased animal survival afterward. The CD47mAb400-treated group showed lower serum transaminases, bilirubin, oxidative stress, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling staining, caspase-3 activity, and proinflammatory cytokine expression of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6. Thus, CD47 blockade with CD47mAb400 administered both to the donor and the recipient reduced liver graft IRI in a rat liver transplantation model. This may translate to decreased liver dysfunction and increased survival of liver transplant recipients.

A 2-year randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study of oral selective iNOS inhibitor, cindunistat (SD-6010), in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with cindunistat hydrochloride maleate slows progression of osteoarthritis (OA) METHODS: This 2-year, multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled patients with symptomatic knee OA (Kellgren and Lawrence Grade (KLG) 2 or 3). Standard OA therapies were permitted throughout. Patients were randomly assigned to cindunistat (50 or 200 mg/day) or placebo. Randomisation was stratified by KLG. Radiographs to assess joint space narrowing (JSN) were acquired using the modified Lyon-schuss protocol at baseline, week 48 and 96. RESULTS: Of 1457 patients (50 mg/day, n=485; 200 mg/day, n=486; placebo, n=486), 1048 (71.9%) completed the study. Patients were predominantly women; 56% had KLG3. The primary analysis did not demonstrate superiority of cindunistat versus placebo for rate of change in JSN. In KLG2 patients, JSN after 48 weeks was lower with cindunistat 50 mg/day versus placebo (p=0.032). Least-squares mean±SE JSN with cindunistat 50 mg/day ( -0.048±0.028 mm) and 200 mg/day (-0.062±0.028 mm) were 59.9% (95% CI 6.8% to 106.9%) and 48.7% (95% CI -8.4% to 93.9%) of placebo, improvement was not maintained at 96 weeks. No improvement was observed for KLG3 patients at either time-point. Cindunistat did not improve joint pain or function, but was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Cindunistat (50 or 200 mg/day) did not slow the rate of JSN versus placebo. After 48-weeks, KLG2 patients showed less JSN; however, the improvement was not sustained at 96-weeks. iNOS inhibition did not slow OA progression in KLG3 patients. CLINICAL TRIAL LISTING: NCT00565812.

Development of AO-176, a Next-Generation Humanized Anti-CD47 Antibody with Novel Anticancer Properties and Negligible Red Blood Cell Binding.

Inhibitors of adaptive immune checkpoints have shown promise as cancer treatments. CD47 is an innate immune checkpoint receptor broadly expressed on normal tissues and overexpressed on many tumors. Binding of tumor CD47 to signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages and dendritic cells triggers a "don't eat me" signal that inhibits phagocytosis enabling escape of innate immune surveillance. Blocking CD47/SIRPα interaction promotes phagocytosis reducing tumor burden in numerous xenograft and syngeneic animal models. We have developed a next-generation humanized anti-CD47 antibody, AO-176, that not only blocks the CD47/SIRPα interaction to induce tumor cell phagocytosis, but also induces tumor cytotoxicity in hematologic and solid human tumor cell lines, but not normal noncancerous cells, by a cell autonomous mechanism (not ADCC). AO-176 also binds preferentially to tumor versus many normal cell types. In particular, AO-176 binds negligibly to RBCs in contrast to tumor cells, even at high concentrations up to 200 µg/mL and does not agglutinate RBCs up to 1 mg/mL in vitro These properties are expected not only to decrease the antigen sink, but also to minimize on-target clinical adverse effects observed following treatment with other reported RBC-binding anti-CD47 antibodies. When tested in cynomolgus monkeys, AO-176 was well tolerated with no adverse effects. Finally, we show that AO-176 demonstrates dose-dependent antitumor activity in tumor xenograft models. Taken together, the unique properties and antitumor activity of our next-generation anti-CD47 antibody, AO-176, distinguishes it from other CD47/SIRPα axis targeting agents in clinical development.

Chemopreventive properties of a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in colon carcinogenesis, administered alone or in combination with celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor.

The inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) are overexpressed in colonic tumors of humans, as well as in colon tumors that develop in rats after the administration of the colon-specific carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). iNOS may regulate COX-2 production of proinflammatory prostaglandins, which are known to play a key role in colon tumor development. Experiments were designed to assess the potential chemopreventive properties of highly selective iNOS inhibitors, administered individually and in combination with a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on the development of AOM-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). F344 rats were fed experimental diets containing one of the following: 0, 10, 30, or 100 parts/million (ppm) of the selective iNOS inhibitor L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine tetrazole-amide (SC-51); 1800 ppm of the less potent, selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG); 500 ppm of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib; 320 ppm of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory sulindac (positive control); or 30 ppm of SC-51 with 500 ppm of celecoxib, and 100 ppm of SC-51 with 500 ppm of celecoxib. One and 2 weeks later, rats received s.c. injections of AOM at a dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight. At 17 weeks of age, all rats were sacrificed. Colons were evaluated for ACF, and colonic mucosae were assayed for COX and NOS isoform enzyme activities. Samples of venous blood, collected at various time points, were analyzed for these agents. SC-51, administered alone, demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of the incidence of colonic ACF. The highest doses of SC-51 (100 ppm) and AG (1800 ppm) significantly suppressed the incidence of colonic ACF (P < 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively) and crypt multiplicity in terms of numbers of aberrant crypts/focus (P < 0.0001). Importantly, the combination of either low or high effective doses of SC-51 (30 or 100 ppm) and celecoxib (500 ppm) suppressed AOM-induced colonic ACF formation (P < 0.05 and < 0.001, respectively) and reduced multiplicity of four or more aberrant crypts/focus (P < 0.0001) to a greater extent than did these agents administered individually. As expected, sulindac inhibited colonic ACF formation (P < 0.001) and reduced the multiplicity of four or more aberrant crypts (P < 0.0001) to approximately 45%. The enzymatic activities of COX-2 and iNOS were significantly induced in the AOM-treated animals, and administration of the iNOS inhibitors, SC-51 and AG, significantly inhibited the activities of both iNOS and COX-2 in the colonic mucosa. The combined administration of SC-51 and celecoxib inhibited the COX-2 activity to a greater extent than did either of these agents administered alone. These findings support the hypothesis that selective iNOS inhibitors may have chemopreventive properties and that coadministration with a selective COX-2 inhibitor may have additional chemopreventive potential.

Attenuation of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Improvement of Survival in Recipients of Steatotic Rat Livers Using CD47 Monoclonal Antibody.

BACKGROUND: Despite the efficacy of orthotopic liver transplantation in the treatment of end-stage liver diseases, its therapeutic utility is severely limited by the availability of donor organs. The ability to rehabilitate marginal organs, such as steatotic allografts, has the potential to address some of the supply limitations of available organs for transplantation. Steatotic livers are more susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which is exacerbated by the thrombospondin-1/CD47 pathway through inhibition of nitric oxide signaling. We postulated that CD47 blockade with a monoclonal antibody specific to CD47, clone 400 (CD47mAb400) may reduce the extent of IRI in steatotic liver allografts. METHODS: Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using steatotic liver grafts from Zucker rats transplanted into lean recipients. Control IgG or the CD47mAb400 was administered to the donor livers at procurement. Serum transaminases, histological changes, and animal survival were assessed. Hepatocellular damage, oxidative and nitrosative stress, and inflammation were also quantified. RESULTS: Administration of CD47mAb400 to donor livers increased recipient survival and resulted in significant reduction of serum transaminases, bilirubin, triphosphate nick-end labeling staining, caspase-3 activity, oxidative and nitrosative stresses, and proinflammatory cytokine expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that administration of CD47mAb400 to donor grafts may reduce IRI through CD47 blockade to result in improved function of steatotic liver allografts and increased survival of recipients and represent a novel strategy to allow the use of livers with higher levels of steatosis.

A selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibits exhaled breath nitric oxide in healthy volunteers and asthmatics.

The inducible isoenzyme of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) generates nitric oxide (NO) in inflammatory diseases such as asthma. The prodrug L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide (SC-51) is rapidly converted in vivo to the active metabolite L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL). Initially, we performed in vitro experiments in human primary airway epithelial cells to demonstrate that L-NIL causes inhibition of iNOS. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial, SC-51 was administered as a single oral dose (20 or 200 mg) in separate cohorts of healthy volunteers (two groups of n=12) and mild asthmatic patients (two groups of n=12). SC-51 (200 mg) reduced exhaled breath NO levels to <2 ppb in both healthy volunteers (P<0.001) and mild asthmatics (P<0.001) within 15 min, representing >90% inhibition of baseline levels of NO in asthmatic patients, with the effects lasting at least 72 h. There were no significant effects on blood pressure, pulse rate, or respiratory function (FEV1). This study demonstrates that an inhibitor of iNOS produces marked inhibition of exhaled breath NO in normal and asthmatic subjects without producing the side effects observed following the systemic administration of non-selective NOS inhibitors, and thus provides support for the potential use of iNOS inhibitors to treat a range of inflammatory clinical disorders.

Antibody mediated therapy targeting CD47 inhibits tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high rate of tumor recurrence and metastasis, resulting in shortened survival times. The efficacy of current systemic therapies for HCC is limited. In this study, we used xenograft tumor models to investigate the use of antibodies that block CD47 and inhibit HCC tumor growth. Immunostaining of tumor tissue and HCC cell lines demonstrated CD47 over-expression in HCC as compared to normal hepatocytes. Macrophage phagocytosis of HCC cells was increased after treatment with CD47 antibodies (CD47mAbs) that block CD47 binding to SIRPα. Further, CD47 blockade inhibited tumor growth in both heterotopic and orthotopic models of HCC, and promoted the migration of macrophages into the tumor mass. Our results demonstrate that targeting CD47 by specific antibodies has potential immunotherapeutic efficacy in human HCC.

5-Fluorinated L-lysine analogues as selective induced nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

5(S)-Fluoro-N6-(iminoethyl)-l-lysine (14), an analogue of the potent, selective induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor iminoethyl-l-lysine (1), was synthesized and found to be a selective iNOS inhibitor.

Synthesis and biological characterization of L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole-amide, a prodrug of a selective iNOS inhibitor.

The 5-tetrazole amide of L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL), L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide (1), has been prepared and evaluated. In contrast to L-NIL, 1 is a stable, nonhygroscopic, crystalline solid. Unlike L-NIL, 1 has minimal inhibitory activity in vitro on human inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, it is rapidly converted in vivo to L-NIL and produces dose-dependent inhibition of iNOS in acute and chronic models of inflammation in the rodent with efficacy comparable to L-NIL. In addition, both 1 and L-NIL exhibit significant and comparable in vivo selectivity for the inhibition of iNOS vs endothelial NOS. Doses approximately 80-fold greater than those that inhibited inflammation do not elevate systemic blood pressure. In summary, both the physical properties and the pharmacological profile of 1 make it an ideal molecule for preclinical and clinical studies on the role of selective iNOS inhibitors in mediating inflammatory disease processes.

A prodrug of a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase is neuroprotective in the rat model of glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that nitric oxide, synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase, causes degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in an animal model of glaucoma. METHODS: Rats with unilateral, chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure were treated orally with L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide, a prodrug of an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase. The loss of retinal ganglion cells was quantitated as an indicator of glaucomatous damage. RESULTS: At the end of seven months, rat eyes with chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure lost approximately 20,000 retinal ganglion cells. Treatment with L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide for seven months completely prevented the loss of retinal ganglion cells in eyes with chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure. When treatment with L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide was delayed and started after three months of chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure, further loss of retinal ganglion cells was prevented. CONCLUSION: Pharmacological neuroprotection with a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase may be useful for the treatment of glaucoma.

CD47 blockade reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury and improves outcomes in a rat kidney transplant model.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) significantly contributes to delayed graft function and inflammation, leading to graft loss. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is exacerbated by the thrombospondin-1-CD47 system through inhibition of nitric oxide signaling. We postulate that CD47 blockade and prevention of nitric oxide inhibition reduce IRI in organ transplantation. METHODS: We used a syngeneic rat renal transplantation model of IRI with bilaterally nephrectomized recipients to evaluate the effect of a CD47 monoclonal antibody (CD47mAb) on IRI. Donor kidneys were flushed with CD47mAb OX101 or an isotype-matched control immunoglobulin and stored at 4°C in University of Wisconsin solution for 6 hr before transplantation. RESULTS: CD47mAb perfusion of donor kidneys resulted in marked improvement in posttransplant survival, lower levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium, and less histological evidence of injury. In contrast, control groups did not survive more than 5 days, had increased biochemical indicators of renal injury, and exhibited severe pathological injury with tubular atrophy and necrosis. Recipients of CD47mAb-treated kidneys showed decreased levels of plasma biomarkers of renal injury including Cystatin C, Osteopontin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP1), ß2-Microglobulin, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A), and clusterin compared to the control group. Furthermore, laser Doppler assessment showed higher renal blood flow in the CD47mAb-treated kidneys. CONCLUSION: These results provide strong evidence for the use of CD47 antibody-mediated blockade to reduce IRI and improve organ preservation for renal transplantation.

Loss of retinal ganglion cells following retinal ischemia: the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Following experimental, transient, retinal ischemia in the rat, there is loss of retinal neurons, which occurs over several weeks. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are particularly susceptible and there is early, massive degeneration of these neurons after ischemia. We have determined the early mechanisms by which RGCs are killed following ischemia. Retinal ischemia/reperfusion was produced in rats by transient unilateral elevation of intraocular pressure above systolic blood pressure. Retinas were studied by immunohistochemistry for the presence of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS-2) at several time points post-ischemia and specific cell types were identified. Rats were also treated orally with L -N(6) -(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide (SC-51), a prodrug of an inhibitor of NOS-2 or with aminoguanidine (AG) for a period of 14 days. Retrograde labelling with Fluoro-Gold quantitated the loss of RGCs. NOS-2 was not present in the normal retina and was not present in the eyes that were contralateral to the ischemic eyes. Within 24hr after ischemia, polymorphonuclear leukocytes containing NOS-2 had entered the ganglion cell layer and surrounded RGCs. Within 5 days after ischemia, NOS-2 was present in many inner retina cells and in invading monocytes in the vitreous. Between 7 and 14 days post-ischemia, there were few hematogenous cells in the retina but NOS-2 was sparsely detectable in microglia and other cells of the inner retina. Two weeks after ischemia, rat eyes lost approximately 50% of the RGCs. Treatment with AG for 14 days following ischemia was partially neuroprotective; approximately 28% of the RGCs were lost. Treatment with SC-51 for 14 days following ischemia almost completely prevented the loss of RGCs. Thus, within 24hr following ischemia, polymorphonuclear leukocytes containing NOS-2 attack and kill neurons in the ganglion cell layer. For 2 weeks after ischemia, NOS-2 appears transiently in the retina in several different cell types at different times. Continuous pharmacological treatment with inhibitors of NOS-2 activity during the 2 weeks post-ischemia period provides significant neuroprotection against the loss of RGCs.

The in situ up-regulation of chondrocyte interleukin-1-converting enzyme and interleukin-18 levels in experimental osteoarthritis is mediated by nitric oxide.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate in situ the relationship between 2 key mediators implicated in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage: nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1-converting enzyme (ICE). Interleukin-18 (IL-18) was also studied and served as reference for the effects of ICE. METHODS: An OA model was created in dogs by sectioning (stab wound) the anterior cruciate ligament of the right stifle joint. Three experimental groups were studied: unoperated untreated dogs, operated untreated dogs (OA), and OA dogs treated with oral N-iminoethyl-L-lysine (L-NIL), a specific inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (10 mg/kg twice a day starting immediately after surgery). At 12 weeks after surgery, cartilage from the femoral condyles and tibial plateaus were processed for immunohistochemistry for ICE, IL-18, and protease inhibitor 9 (PI-9), a natural inhibitor of ICE, followed by morphometric analysis. Cartilage specimens from the femoral condyles of untreated OA dogs were dissected and incubated with specific inhibitors of different signaling pathways likely to be involved in the OA process: SB 202190 (10 microM; a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] inhibitor), PD 98059 (100 microM; a MAPK kinase 1/2 [MEK-1/2] inhibitor), NS-398 (10 ng/ml; a specific cyclooxygenase 2 [COX-2] inhibitor), and L-NIL (50 microM). RESULTS: Both ICE and IL-18 were present in situ in the canine cartilage, with a significant increase in the level of these 2 proteins in OA cartilage. In contrast, the level of PI-9 was lower in OA than in normal cartilage (difference not statistically significant). Compared with untreated OA cartilage, oral treatment with L-NIL significantly decreased ICE and IL-18 levels in cartilage from the femoral condyles and tibial plateaus, to values similar to those in normal dogs. L-NIL also increased the PI-9 level in normal dogs compared with OA dogs, reaching statistical significance for femoral condyle cartilage. Interestingly, in vitro experiments demonstrated significant inhibition of ICE levels by p38, MEK-1/2, and COX-2 inhibitors, but not by the iNOS inhibitor. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that in situ in OA cartilage, the stimulation of chondrocytes by NO is at least partly responsible for the up-regulation of ICE and IL-18 synthesis while decreasing the level of the ICE inhibitor PI-9. The ICE level is controlled by the activation of at least 2 MAPK pathways, p38 and MEK-1/2. Interestingly, it appears that ICE synthesis is not regulated by the endogenous production of NO. These data highlight the role played by iNOS in regulating the synthesis of major catabolic factors involved in OA cartilage degradation.

3-Hydroxy-4-methyl-5-pentyl-2-iminopyrrolidine: a potent and highly selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.

(3S,4S,5R)-2-Imino-4-methyl-5-pentyl-3-pyrrolidinol hydrochloride (1) is a potent inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) inhibitor that has three times the selectivity of its parent, (+)-cis-4-methyl-5-pentylpyrrolidin-2-imine hydrochloride (2).

Cyclooxygenase 2-dependent prostaglandin E2 modulates cartilage proteoglycan degradation in human osteoarthritis explants.

OBJECTIVE: To examine cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme expression, its regulation by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and the role of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in proteoglycan degradation in human osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage. METHODS: Samples of human OA articular cartilage, meniscus, synovial membrane, and osteophytic fibrocartilage were obtained at knee arthroplasty and cultured ex vivo with or without IL-1 beta and COX inhibitors. COX expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The enzymatic activity of COX was measured by conversion of arachidonic acid to PGE(2). Cartilage degradation was evaluated by measuring the accumulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the medium. RESULTS: IL-1 beta induced robust expression of COX-2 and PGE(2) in OA meniscus, synovial membrane, and osteophytic fibrocartilage explants, whereas low levels were produced in OA articular cartilage. IL-1 beta also induced cartilage proteoglycan degradation in OA synovial membrane-cartilage cocultures. Increased proteoglycan degradation corresponded to the induction of COX-2 protein expression in, and PGE(2) production from, the synovial membrane. Dexamethasone, neutralizing IL-1 beta antibody, or the selective COX-2 inhibitor, SC-236, attenuated both the IL-1 beta-induced PGE(2) production and cartilage proteoglycan degradation in these cocultures. The addition of PGE(2) reversed the inhibition of proteoglycan degradation caused by SC-236. CONCLUSION: IL-1 beta-induced production of COX-2 protein and PGE(2) was low in OA articular cartilage compared with that in the other OA tissues examined. IL-1 beta-mediated degradation of cartilage proteoglycans in OA synovial membrane-cartilage cocultures was blocked by the selective COX-2 inhibitor, SC-236, and the effect of SC-236 was reversed by the addition of exogenous PGE(2). Our data suggest that induction of synovial COX-2-produced PGE(2) is one mechanism by which IL-1 beta modulates cartilage proteoglycan degradation in OA.

4-Fluorinated L-lysine analogs as selective i-NOS inhibitors: methodology for introducing fluorine into the lysine side chain.

In the literature, the introduction of fluorine into bioactive molecules has been known to enhance the biological activity relative to the parent molecule. Described in this article is the synthesis of 4R-fluoro-L-NIL (12) and 4,4-difluoro-L-NIL (23) as part of our iNOS program. Both 12 and 23 were found to be selective iNOS inhibitors as shown in Table 2 below. Secondarily, methodology to synthesize orthogonally protected 4-fluoro-L-lysine and 4,4-difluoro-L-lysine has been developed.