Mycophenolate mofetil has potent anti-inflammatory actions in a mouse model of acute lung injury.

Septic shock is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and it is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressant that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of MMF in a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was evaluated. ALI was induced by intrapleural injection of LPS (250 ng/cavity). The leukocyte migration, exudation, myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activities, nitric oxide products, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) levels, as well as mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1ß, were evaluated. This study showed that MMF significantly decreased all parameters studied in a manner comparable to treatment with dexamethasone. In conclusion, MMF has important anti-inflammatory effects that may be useful as an auxiliary treatment for septic shock.

I3-naringenin-II8--4'OMe-eriodictyol: a new potential analgesic agent isolated from Rheedia gardneriana leaves.

This paper describes the isolation, identification and analgesic activity of a new biflavonoid from Rheedia gardneriana leaves, which correspond to I3-naringenin-II8-4'-OMe-eriodictyol (GB-2a-II-4'-OMe) (1), with a methoxyl group in position 4 of ring-II. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic data and confirmed by an alkaline hydrolysis. Its analgesic effect was evaluated in a writhing test and a formalin test in mice. It was found that this compound exhibits potent and dose-related analgesic action in both experimental models, with ID50's values of 4.5 micromol/kg against the writhing test and 8.2 and 6.8 micromol/kg against the first and second phase of the formalin test, respectively. It was several times more potent than some well-known analgesic drugs used as reference.

Isolation of biflavonoids with analgesic activity from Rheedia gardneriana leaves.

Some phytoconstituents present in the R. Gardneriana Pl. Tr. leaves, a Brazilian medicinal plant, were isolated by column chromatography. Their preliminary analgesic effects were evaluated against formalin-induced pain in mice. The results demonstrated that four biflavonoids, identified as volkensiflavone, GB-2 a, fukugetin and fukugeside are the main active components of the ethyl acetate fraction. Such compounds exhibited significative analgesic activity in relation to the second phase (inflammatory pain) of the formalin test, suggesting that they are the compounds responsible for the pharmacological effects previously observed for the hydroalcoholic extract of this plant.

Dual effects of endothelins -1, -2 and -3 on guinea pig field-stimulated ileum: possible mediation by two receptors coupled to pertussis toxin-insensitive mechanisms.

This study compared the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1), ET-2 and ET-3 on the guinea pig field-stimulated ileum. All ETs (0.3-30 nM) caused graded inhibitions of nerve-mediated responses followed by sustained contractions. The rank order of potencies for the twitch depressor effect (IC50S) was ET-3 = ET-1 greater than ET-2, with ET-3 causing greater maximal inhibition than ET-1 or ET-2. The rank order of potencies for contraction (EC50S) was ET-1 = ET-2 greater than ET-3, with ET-1 causing greater maximal contraction than ET-2 or ET-3. Twitch inhibition by ET-1 (3 nM) was unaffected by indomethacin (5.6 microM), cromakalim (10 microM), glibenclamide (3 microM) or nicardipine (0.1 microM). ET-1-induced contraction was unaltered by tetrodotoxin (0.3 microM), atropine (0.3 microM) or glibenclamide, but was reduced by indomethacin. Cromakalim and nicardipine virtually abolished ET-1-induced contraction. ET-1 (up to 30 nM) did not potentiate submaximal contractions induced by acetylcholine, histamine, bradykinin or substance P. ET-3 relaxed ileal segments precontracted with either acetylcholine (0.3 microM) or histamine (1 microM). Pretreatment of guinea pigs with pertussis toxin (50 micrograms/kg i.p., 6 days beforehand) did not influence either effects of ET-1 on the field-stimulated ileum. Our data suggest that the dual effects of ETs on the guinea pig isolated ileum are mediated by distinct receptors and possibly involve different mechanisms of action. The transient inhibition of responses to field stimulation seems unrelated to activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels and is rather insensitive to L-type Ca++ channel blockade.

Potent constrictor actions of endothelin-1, endothelin-2, and endothelin-3 in rat isolated portal vein.

In rings of rat portal vein, endothelin-1, endothelin-2, and endothelin-3 caused graded slow contractions and potentiated spontaneous contractions. The apparent EC50 values and maximal responses to 30 nM endothelin were 1.4 nM and 0.96 g for endothelin-1, 5.2 nM and 0.65 g for endothelin-2, and 1.7 nM and 0.62 g for endothelin-3 (n = 4-12). At concentrations producing half the contraction triggered by 80 mM KCl, the order of potencies was endothelin-1 greater than U46619 = angiotensin II greater than bradykinin greater than substance P greater than phenylephrine. Longitudinal portal-mesenteric vein preparations developed very modest contractions to endothelin-1 (0.13 g at 30 nM; n = 5), but their responses to 80 mM KCl and phenylephrine were greater than those of rings. Responses of rings to endothelin-1 were profoundly reduced in Ca(2+)-free medium, but less inhibition was obtained after incubation with nicardipine (up to 1 microM) and/or nickel (up to 0.5 mM), phorbol (up to 0.3 microM), staurosporine (up to 10 nM), or cromakalim (3 microM). Indomethacin (5.6 microM) did not affect responses to endothelin-1. Cromakalim (0.1-3 microM) also relaxed rings constricted with 0.3 nM endothelin-1, and this effect was partially reversed by glibenclamide (3 microM). Thus, endothelins, especially endothelin-1, are potent constrictors of portal vein rings but not of portal-mesenteric vein strips. Their action appears to rely largely on Ca2+ influx from the external medium (only in part via L- and T-type Ca2+ channels) and activation of protein kinase C but not on eicosanoid generation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)