Afrormosin, an Isoflavonoid from Amburana cearensis A. C. Smith, Modulates the Inflammatory Response of Stimulated Human Neutrophils.

Isoflavones are phytoestrogens known by their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Presently, there is no information on whether afrormosin, an isoflavone from Amburana cearensis A.C. Smith (Fabaceae), has some effect on the inflammatory response from stimulated human neutrophils. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials of afrormosin on human neutrophils. Neutrophils (2.5 × 10(6) cells/mL) were incubated with afrormosin (3.35-335.2 µM) prepared from a product isolated from Amburana cearensis A.C. Smith with a 78.5% degree of purity and stimulated by the addition of cytochalasin B and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) or phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Afrormosin inhibited the neutrophil degranulation induced by fMLP (10.47-335.2 µM) or PMA (0.33-167.6 µM), myeloperoxidase activity (3.3-335.2 µM), TNF-α secretion (16.7-335.2 µM) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (16.7-335.2 µM). On the other hand, afrormosin did not show any effect either on elastase or as a free radical scavenger. These data suggest that afrormosin modulates intermediary steps of the neutrophil ROS generation process. In addition, the modulatory effect of afrormosin on human neutrophil degranulation seems to be directed towards PMA-induced activation, indicating a potent inhibition of the protein kinase C activity. This study provided evidence, for the first time, to support the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of afrormosin, creating novel insights into the pharmacological actions of this natural isoflavone.

Genetic analysis of complement C1s deficiency associated with systemic lupus erythematosus highlights alternative splicing of normal C1s gene.

Deficiencies of complement proteins of the classical pathway are strongly associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. Deficiency of C1r has been observed to occur concomitantly with deficiency in C1s and 9 out of 15 reported cases presented systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we describe a family in which all four children are deficient in C1s but only two of them developed SLE. Hemolytic activity mediated by the alternative and the lectin pathways were normal, but classical pathway activation was absent in all children's sera. C1s was undetectable, while in the parents' sera it was lower than in the normal controls. The levels of C1r observed in the siblings and parents sera were lower than in the control, while the concentrations of other complement proteins (C3, C4, MBL and MASP-2) were normal in all family members. Impairment of C1s synthesis was observed in the patients' fibroblasts when analyzed by confocal microscopy. We show that all four siblings are homozygous for a mutation at position 938 in exon 6 of the C1s cDNA that creates a premature stop codon. Our investigations led us to reveal the presence of previously uncharacterized splice variants of C1s mRNA transcripts in normal human cells. These variants are derived from the skipping of exon 3 and from the use of an alternative 3' splice site within intron 1 which increases the size of exon 2 by 87 nucleotides.

Comparison of antioxidant activities of tocopherols alone and in pharmaceutical formulations.

The objective of the present investigation was to compare the antioxidant effect of different forms of Vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol, Mixed Tocopherols, Ronoxan MAP and alpha-tocopherol acetate) and of topical formulations containing these active pharmaceutical ingredients, using chemiluminescence and the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Inhibition of the intensity of chemiluminescence, using the H2O2-luminol-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme system, was measured for 10 min at room temperature in 10 microl samples of each vitamin at different concentrations, and of formulations containing these vitamins. H-donor ability in the DPPH assay, was measured in 10 microl samples at different concentrations of each vitamin, as well as in formulation in ethanol solution; the decrease of absorbency was read at 517 nm. DL-alpha-tocopherol, Mixed Tocopherols and Ronoxan MAP alone or in formulations, markedly inhibited chemiluminescence intensity and decreased absorbency in the DPPH assay in a concentration-dependent manner. Alpha-tocopherol acetate and formulations containing this vitamin did not show antioxidant activity in either assay. Other components of the formulations did not interfere with the measurements, indicating that the methods employed can be used to evaluate antioxidant activity in topical formulations.

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of different flavonoids by the chemiluminescence method.

The objective of the present investigation was to study the antioxidant action of different flavonoids (quercetin, glabridin, red clover, and Isoflavin Beta, an isoflavones mixture) in order to determine if they could be added to a topical formulation used to treat damage caused by free radicals. Samples of 10 microL of the test compounds at different concentrations were mixed with 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, and a luminol solution was added to yield a final concentration of 0.113 mM. Hydrogen peroxide was then added at a final concentration of 0.05 mM. The reaction was started by introducing the horseradish peroxidase enzyme at a final concentration of 0.2 IU/mL, in a final volume of 1.0 mL. Chemiluminescence was measured for 10 minutes at room temperature, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a control. All samples showed marked inhibition of oxidative stress, with a concentration-dependent action for quercetin and Isoflavin Beta. The highest inhibition was observed with glabridin and the dry red clover extract. All flavonoids proved to be adequate for addition to topical formulations because of their high antioxidant activity.

Inhibitory effect of eight simple coumarins on the lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence of rabbit neutrophils.

The generation of superoxide anion (O2*-) and other reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as HO*, HOCl, NO, 1O2 and H2O2, by stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes during phagocytosis is a major mechanism of host defense against invading microorganisms. However, large amounts of ROS are suggested to be responsible for many diseases. In this work we studied the inhibitory effect of eight simple coumarins on O2*- generation by rabbit neutrophil upon stimulation with opsonized zymosan, using lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence assay. We observed that coumarins containing hydroxy or acetoxy substituents at position 7 of the benzopyrone ring were the most active ones (IC50 values ranging from 6.0 +/- 2.8 to 18.6 +/- 2.6 micromol/L). Substitution of these groups by allyloxy or metoxy groups decreased the activity and unsubstituted coumarin had no effect. Cell damage after exposure to 200 micromol/L of each compound was determined by measurement of the activity of the released cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase and by Trypan Blue dye exclusion test. None of the drugs affected significantly the cellular viability.