Pharmacology of INS37217 [P(1)-(uridine 5')-P(4)- (2'-deoxycytidine 5')tetraphosphate, tetrasodium salt], a next-generation P2Y(2) receptor agonist for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

INS37217 [P(1)-(uridine 5')-P(4)-(2'-deoxycytidine 5')tetraphosphate, tetrasodium salt] is a deoxycytidine-uridine dinucleotide with agonist activity at the P2Y(2) receptor. In primate lung tissues, the P2Y(2) receptor mRNA was located by in situ hybridization predominantly in epithelial cells and not in smooth muscle or stromal tissue. The pharmacologic profile of INS37217 parallels that of UTP, leading to increased chloride and water secretion, increased cilia beat frequency, and increased mucin release. The combined effect of these actions was confirmed in an animal model of tracheal mucus velocity that showed that a single administration of INS37217 significantly enhanced mucus transport for at least 8 h after dosing. This extended duration of action is consistent with the ability of INS37217 to resist metabolism by airway cells and sputum enzymes. The enhanced metabolic stability and resultant increased duration of improved mucociliary clearance may confer significant advantages to INS37217 over other P2Y(2) agonists in the treatment of diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Pathogenesis of experimental neonatal woodchuck hepatitis virus infection: chronicity as an outcome of infection is associated with a diminished acute hepatitis that is temporally deficient for the expression of interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha messenger RNAs.

Surgical biopsies of the liver were obtained from woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV)-infected neonatal woodchucks at 2 time points before the self-limited or chronic outcomes became obvious by serologic criteria. Following segregation of outcomes, livers were analyzed for intrahepatic type 1 cytokine messenger RNAs (mRNAs) (interleukin 2 [IL-2], interferon gamma [IFN-gamma], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) and leukocyte inflammatory phenotype (IgG+ plasma cells, lysozyme+ macrophages, CD3+ T cells). Baselines were assessed using age-matched uninfected control livers. At week 8 (early acute phase), intrahepatic type 1 cytokine mRNAs were similarly low in both outcome settings and no different from age-matched uninfected controls. This was consistent with the minimal initial viral loads and lack of histologic inflammation at this time. At week 14 (mid-acute phase), changes in viral load between outcome groups related inversely to the intrahepatic inflammatory responses. Animals that eventually became resolved had increased intrahepatic expression of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNAs and robust inflammation by CD3+ T cells, plasma cells, and macrophages. At the same time point of infection, animals that eventually became chronic carriers had an acute hepatitis involving the same cell types, but at diminished levels, and markedly deficient intrahepatic expression of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNAs. IL-2 mRNA remained at baseline control levels in both outcome groups. These cotemporal comparisons map a critical deviation in host response to the acute stage of an evolving chronic infection. They strongly suggest that increasing viral load and chronicity as an outcome of neonatal WHV infection result from a temporal deficiency in the acute intrahepatic effector mechanisms mediated by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha.

Effects of prostaglandins and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid on epidermal growth factor-dependent DNA synthesis and c-myc proto-oncogene expression in Syrian hamster embryo cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates DNA synthesis in quiescent Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. Work in the present authors' laboratory has shown that the formation of 9- and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODEs), 15-lipoxygenase-derived metabolites of linoleic acid, are involved in the mitogenic response to EGF in these cells (Glasgow et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 10771-10779). SHE cells also produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha). We now report the effects of HODEs and prostaglandins on EGF-dependent expression of the growth-related proto-oncogene c-myc in SHE cells. Treatment of cells with eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), which blocks EGF-dependent HODE formation, inhibited the mitogenic response to EGF, while exogenous 13-HODE potentiated EGF-dependent DNA synthesis. However, neither ETYA or 13-HODE altered the accumulation of c-myc mRNA in response to EGF. In contrast, PGE2 inhibited EGF-induced DNA synthesis and down-regulated EGF-stimulated c-myc mRNA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, whereas PGF2 alpha had no effect on these responses. PGE2, but not PGF2 alpha, induced a rapid increase in cAMP formation, and both forskolin and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP mimicked the inhibitory effects of PGE2 on EGF-dependent DNA synthesis and c-myc mRNA accumulation, suggesting that the involvement of cAMP. The results indicate that the modulation of EGF-dependent DNA synthesis by PGE2, but not by HODEs, is associated with altered expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc in SHE cells.

Modulation of c-jun and jun-B messenger RNA and inhibition of DNA synthesis by prostaglandin E2 in Syrian hamster embryo cells.

Fatty acid metabolites such as prostaglandins are important regulators of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms involved in this regulation are unclear. We have examined the effects of several fatty acid metabolites on the expression of the growth-related genes c-jun and jun-B in Syrian hamster embryo cells. Treatment of cells with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) resulted in the inhibition of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis and c-jun mRNA accumulation, whereas PGE2 augmented EGF-stimulated jun-B mRNA and markedly stimulated jun-B accumulation in the absence of EGF. Treatment of cells with PGE2 resulted in rapid accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP), whereas prostaglandin F2 alpha did not stimulate cAMP formation and did not alter EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis or accumulation of c-jun or jun-B mRNA. Forskolin and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP mimicked the effects of PGE2 on DNA synthesis and on the expression of c-jun and jun-B, suggesting the involvement of cAMP. We have shown that EGF-induced DNA synthesis requires the formation of hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids, formed from linoleic acid by a 15-lipoxygenase, in Syrian hamster embryo cells (Glasgow et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267: 10771-10779). Inhibition of this 15-lipoxygenase blocked EGF-dependent hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid formation and mitogenesis but did not affect EGF-stimulated c-jun or jun-B mRNA accumulation. The data suggest that the modulation of EGF-dependent DNA synthesis by PGE2 is associated with altered expression of c-jun and jun-B in Syrian hamster embryo cells. In contrast, hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids appear to act downstream or divergent from c-jun and jun-B expression in the regulation of EGF-dependent DNA synthesis.

Regulation of histamine H1 receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis by histamine and phorbol esters in DDT1 MF-2 cells.

The regulation of histamine-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover by histamine and phorbol esters was examined in intact DDT1 MF-2 cells grown in suspension culture. Histamine increased the incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol (PI) in these cells, and this stimulation was inhibited by the H1 antagonist diphenhydramine but not by the H2 antagonist cimetidine. Pretreatment of cells with histamine or with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or other activators of protein kinase C induced a marked decrease in the subsequent stimulation by histamine. PMA, but not histamine, also decreased the ability of epinephrine to stimulate PI labelling through alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Thus, histamine appears to induce homologous desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated PI turnover, whereas direct activation of protein kinase C in the absence of receptor occupancy by agonist induces nonspecific heterologous desensitization of both histamine H1- and alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated responses.

Evidence for alpha 1-adrenergic receptor internalization in DDT1 MF-2 cells following exposure to agonists plus protein kinase C activators.

Agonist-induced sequestration and internalization of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors were examined in DDT1 MF-2 cells. Pretreatment of cells with epinephrine or norepinephrine alone, but not with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate alone, resulted in a marked decrease in [3H]prazosin binding to intact cells at 4 degrees. These pretreatments resulted in little or no change in the fraction of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors exhibiting limited accessibility to the hydrophilic competing ligand epinephrine in short-time competition binding assays with intact cells and little or no change in the subcellular distribution of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors between the plasma membrane and light vesicle compartments as assessed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation assays. Pretreatment with a combination of agonist plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate resulted in a greater decrease in [3H]prazosin binding at 4 degrees than was observed when cells were pretreated with agonist alone, induced the conversion of about half of cell surface alpha 1-adrenergic receptors to a form exhibiting limited accessibility to epinephrine in short-time assays, and induced a shift of about half of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors from the plasma membrane fraction to a light vesicle fraction on sucrose density gradients. A similar shift of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors was observed on sucrose density gradients after exposure to agonist plus either mezerein or beta-phorbol didecanoate, but not with agonist plus alpha-phorbol didecanoate, indicating involvement of protein kinase C. These results suggest that pretreatment with agonist alone induces the sequestration of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors into a compartment that is inaccessible to [3H]prazosin at 4 degrees but that is accessible to hydrophilic ligands at 37 degrees and remains associated with the plasma membrane. In contrast, alpha 1-adrenergic receptors are apparently internalized from the plasma membrane to a separate compartment, presumably an intracellular vesicle, when cells are pretreated simultaneously with a combination of agonist plus a protein kinase C activator.

Effects of agonist and phorbol ester on adrenergic receptors of DDT1 MF-2 cells.

The effects of the adrenergic agonist epinephrine (EPI) and of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on the regulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (AAR) and beta adrenergic receptors (BAR) were compared in DDT1 MF-2 cells grown in suspension culture. Pretreatment of cells with 10 microM EPI for 30 min at 37 degrees C resulted in homologous desensitization of BAR-coupled adenylate cyclase activity assayed in membranes and induced internalization or sequestration of BAR. Pretreatment of cells with PMA did not alter BAR-coupled adenylate cyclase activity or induce internalization of BAR. EPI pretreatment caused a 50% decrease in the subsequent ability of EPI to stimulate AAR-mediated incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol, whereas PMA pretreatment inhibited incorporation by 95%. Neither EPI nor PMA induced the internalization of AAR. Neither EPI nor PMA altered agonist binding properties of AAR in short-time competition binding assays on intact cells, indicating that pretreatment of cells with these agents does not alter the affinity of AAR for agonist. In control cells, agonists converted AAR from a form exhibiting predominantly high affinity for agonists, detected in short-time assays, to a form, exhibiting low apparent affinity for agonist during the course of equilibrium competition binding assays. PMA pretreatment increased the extent of this subsequent agonist-induced conversion to the low affinity form. These results indicate that PMA can mimic agonist-induced desensitization of AAR, but not BAR, and that the desensitization of AAR-coupled phosphatidylinositol turnover induced by EPI and by PMA is not due to altered receptor affinity for EPI or due to receptor internalization.

Regulation of transbilayer distribution of a fluorescent sterol in tumor cell plasma membranes.

The lipid composition and transbilayer distribution of plasma membrane isolated from primary tumor (L-929, LM, A-9 and C3H) and nine metastatic cell lines cultured under identical conditions was examined. Cultured primary tumor and metastatic cells differed two-fold in sterol/phospholipid molar ratios. There was a direct correlation between plasma membrane anionic phospholipid (phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine) content and plasma membrane sterol/phospholipid ratio. This finding may bear on the possible link between oncogenes and inositol lipids. The fluorescent sterol, dehydroergosterol, was incorporated into primary tumor and metastatic cell lines. Selective quenching of outer monolayer fluorescence by covalently linked trinitrophenyl groups demonstrated an asymmetric transbilayer distribution of sterol in the plasma membranes. The inner monolayer of the plasma membranes from both cultured primary and metastatic tumor cells was enriched in sterol as compared with the outer monolayer. Consistent with this, the inner monolayer was distinctly more rigid as determined by the limiting anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Dehydroergosterol fluorescence was temperature dependent and sensitive to lateral phase separations in phosphatidylcholine vesicles and in LM cell plasma membranes. Dehydroergosterol detected phase separations near 24 degrees C in the outer monolayer and at 21 degrees C and 37 degrees C in the inner monolayer of LM plasma membranes. Yet, no change in transbilayer sterol distribution was detected in ascending or descending temperature scans between 4 and 45 degrees C. Alterations in plasma membrane phospholipid polar head group composition by choline analogues (N,N-dimethylethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine, and ethanolamine) also did not perturb transbilayer sterol asymmetry. Treatment with phenobarbital or prilocaine, drugs that selectively fluidize the outer and inner monolayer of LM plasma membranes, respectively, did not change dehydroergosterol transbilayer distribution.

Fluorescence of delta 5,7,9(11),22-ergostatetraen-3 beta-ol in micelles, sterol carrier protein complexes, and plasma membranes.

The fluorescent sterol analogue delta 5,7,9(11),22-ergostatetraen-3 beta-ol (dehydroergosterol) was synthesized and purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Dehydroergosterol in aqueous solution had a critical micelle concentration of 25 nM and a maximum solubility of 1.3 microM as ascertained from fluorescence polarization and light scattering properties, respectively. Several lines of evidence indicated a close molecular interaction of dehydroergosterol with purified rat liver squalene and sterol carrier protein (SCP). SCP increased the maximal solubility of dehydroergosterol in aqueous buffer. The fluorescence emission spectrum of dehydroergosterol was blue shifted upon addition of SCP. The fluorescence lifetime of dehydroergosterol in aqueous buffer was 2.3 ns; addition of SCP resulted in the appearance of a second lifetime component near 12.4 ns. The SCP increased the fluorescence polarization of monomeric dehydroergosterol in aqueous buffer from 0.033 to 0.086. Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicated that dehydroergosterol interacted with purified rat liver SCP with an apparent KD = 0.88 microM and Bmax = 4.8 microM. At maximal binding, 1.0 mol of dehydroergosterol was specifically bound per mole of SCP. The close molecular interaction of dehydroergosterol with SCP was also demonstrated by energy-transfer experiments. The intermolecular distance between SCP and bound dehydroergosterol was evaluated by fluorescence energy transfer from tyrosine residues of SCP to the conjugated triene series of double bonds in dehydroergosterol. The transfer efficiency was 36%, and R, the apparent distance between the tyrosine energy donor and the dehydroergosterol energy acceptor, was 19 A. The significance of these data obtained in vitro for dehydroergosterol interaction with SCP was also tested in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanisms in 2-hexanone potentiation of chloroform hepatotoxicity.

2-Hexanone (2-Hx) is known to potentiate chloroform (CHCl3) hepatotoxicity in part by increasing the bioactivation of CHCl3 to phosgene (COCl2). Treatment of rats with 2-Hx + CHCl3 in vivo did not initiate peroxidation of hepatic fatty acids as determined by formation of conjugated dienes or depletion of unsaturated fatty acids, or as determined by production of malondialdehyde (MDA) in vitro. A 5-fold decrease in the specific activity of succinate-dependent cytochrome c reductase in liver from rats treated in vivo with corn oil (vehicle) + CHCl3 and in rats treated with 2-Hx + CHCl3 indicated that a mechanism independent of CHCl3 bioactivation may add to the hepatotoxic effects which result from the metabolism of chloroform to phosgene.

2-hexanone potentiation of [14C]chloroform hepatotoxicity: covalent interaction of a reactive intermediate with rat liver phospholipid.

Rats were treated with [14C]chloroform (14CHCl3) in corn oil (CO) or corn oil alone 18 hr following pretreatment with 2-hexanone (2-HX) in corn oil or corn oil alone. Livers were removed, homogenized 1,2, and 6 hr post-14CHCl3 administration, and glutathione (GSH) content, irreversible binding of 14CHCl3-derived radiolabel, and phospholipid composition were determined. The combination of 2-HX + CHCl3 reduced GSH content to 21% of control (CO + CO) 1 hr after CHCl3 administration. No significant rebound of GSH was observed 24 hr post-CHCl3 administration. In contrast, GSH was not altered by administration of CHCl3 to CO-pretreated rats. Although 14CHCl3-derived radiolabel was irreversibly bound to hepatic macromolecules of both CO- and 2-HX-pretreated rats, total irreversibly bound 14C was significantly enhanced in 2-HX-pretreated rats at all time points. The latter observation was consistent with the decrease in GSH of 2-HX-pretreated rats. Total 14C binding in 2-HX-pretreated rats reached a plateau 2 hr post-14CHCl3 administration and was distributed 52% in protein, 41% in lipid, and 7% in acid soluble fractions 6 hr post-14CHCl3 administration. 2-HX enhanced 14C binding to protein and lipid at each time point. Radiolabel was not detected in neutral lipids of control or 2-hexanone-treated animals, but was enhanced 33-fold in phospholipids of 2-hexanone-treated animals. Phospholipid fatty acid methyl ester derivatives did not contain 14C indicating the radiolabel was most likely associated with phospholipid polar head groups. Two dimensional thin layer chromatographic analysis of phospholipid from treated animals demonstrated that 87% of the total radiolabel was associated with a specific phospholipid (14C-PL) which had a 1:1 molar ratio of phosphate to 14C. The latter indicates that the 14C-PL was a monophospholipid derivative of 14CHCl3 reactive intermediate, generally thought to be phosgene. Concurrent decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine content from 23% of total phospholipid to 7%, accumulation of 14C-PL to 2.6% of total phospholipid, and increase in lysophosphatidylethanolamine from 1 to 7% of total phospholipid during 2-hexanone + 14CHCl3 treatment indicated that the amine moiety of phosphatidylethanolamine polar head groups was the probable target of phosgene-lipid interaction, and that a degradative pathway existed which removed the abnormal phospholipid from hepatic membranes. No phospholipid other than phosphatidylethanolamine was depleted. During models studies, 2% phosgene in toluene was reacted with liver phosphatidylethanolamine for 6 hr at 37 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Soaking of Mustard Seeds to Release Microorganisms in Making Plate Counts 1.

Experiments in plating mustard seed showed that soaking in buffered dilution water for 10 min and shaking 25 times resulted in dislodgement of most microorganisms attached to the seeds.