Preclinical evaluation of anti-inflammatory activities of the novel pyrrolopyrimidine PNU-142731A, a potential treatment for asthma.

The anti-inflammatory properties of a novel pyrrolopyrimidine, PNU-142731A, in a murine model of antigen-induced eosinophilic lung inflammation are described. PNU-142731A, when given orally, demonstrated a dose-related inhibition of eosinophil- and lymphocyte-rich accumulation in the airways of ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized and challenged (OA/OA) C57BL/6 mice. The magnitude of the suppression of lung inflammation was also dependent on length of treatment. Reductions in the levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, and IgA in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of treated OA/OA mice, when compared with vehicle-sensitized control mice (V/OA), were observed. Plasma concentrations of IL-5, total IgE, and OA-specific IgG1 were also lowered in OA/OA mice by treatment. Histological assessment of formalin-fixed lung tissue sections confirmed that the compound blocked the accumulation of eosinophils in the airway tissue. Furthermore, significantly less mucus glycoproteins were seen in the lungs of PNU-142731A-treated OA/OA mice. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of lung tissue from PNU-142731A-dosed OA/OA mice demonstrated that mRNA for Th2 cytokines was less than that in vehicle-treated OA/OA controls. OA-elicited production of IL-4 by disaggregated lung tissue cells from PNU-142371A-treated OA/OA mice was also less than that of controls. In contrast, the release of Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and interferon-gamma) were elevated. Similarly, the OA-stimulated release of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-10) by splenocytes from PNU-142731A-treated OA/OA mice were inhibited. Combined therapy of OA/OA mice with PNU-142731A and suboptimal doses of dexamethasone revealed that PNU-142731A had steroid-sparing effects. These characteristics of PNU-142731A in a murine model of allergic tissue inflammation support its clinical development as a potential treatment for asthma.

Roles of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and alpha4 integrin in antigen-induced changes in microvascular permeability associated with lung inflammation in sensitized brown Norway rats.

Increased microvascular permeability and mucosal edema are pathological features of airway inflammation in asthma. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the edema response occurring in a model of antigen-induced lung inflammation in sensitized brown Norway rats and examined the effects of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to adhesion molecules on this response. Ovalbumin (OA) challenge-induced increases in lung permeability were determined by the leakage of 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) into the extravascular tissues of the lungs 24 h after challenge in animals intravenously injected (prechallenge) with this tracer. Inflammatory cell infiltration into the alveolar space was determined by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Mean extravascular plasma volume in the lung increased 233% as compared with control (P < 0.005) at 24 h and increased to 517% by 72 h. The 24-h edema response was completely inhibited by two oral doses (0.1 mg/kg) of dexamethasone 1 h before, and 7 h after, challenge. Intraperitoneal administration of the anti-rat ICAM-1 mAb 1A29, or anti-rat alpha4 integrin mAb TA-2 (2 mg/kg at 12 and 1 h before, and 7 h after, antigen challenge), significantly suppressed eosinophil infiltration into the alveolar space without inhibiting the enhanced microvascular leakage and lung edema. Determination of plasma antibody concentrations by ELISA of mouse IgG1 indicated that sufficient concentrations of the appropriate mAb were present to block alpha4- or ICAM-1-dependent adhesion. The results suggest that increases in microvascular permeability and plasma leakage occurred independently of eosinophil accumulation.

The mechanism of cytoprotective action of lazaroids I: Inhibition of reactive oxygen species formation and lethal cell injury during periods of energy depletion.

Tirilazad mesylate and related compounds, known as lazaroids, are recognized as inhibitors of membrane lipid peroxidation that also act as free radical scavengers. These compounds have demonstrated protective activity in animal models of traumatic head injury and cerebral ischemia. In this study we used an in vitro cell model to investigate the mechanism by which tirilazed mesylate and related antioxidants delay or prevent the lethal cell injury provoked by chemically induced energy depletion. When the cultured human astrocytoma cell line UC-11MG was treated with the metabolic inhibitor sodium iodoacetate for 4 hr, the cells exhibited signs of irreversible cell injury, including alterations in plasma membrane morphology, the breakdown of membrane phospholipids (release of arachidonic acid into the extracellular medium) and the loss of viability as indicated by the leakage of cytoplasmic components. A large quantity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected in the injured cells by a dichlorofluorescin assay. Increases in early lipid peroxidation products were detected as elevated hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids in the membrane phospholipds, which indicated that the membrane lipids were oxidatively damaged. The addition of tirilazad mesylate, a troloxamine derivative or the common phenolic antioxidant nordihydroguaiaretic acid effectively prevented the increases in ROS, attenuated the elevation of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, and delayed irreversible cell injury. We propose that the destruction of crucial cell constituents in the lipophilic compartments by ROS is one of the major causes of lethal cell injury. The cyytoprotective action of the lazaroids in related, as least in part, to their ability to block the formation of ROS and to arrest the secondary cell injury.

Degradation of membrane phospholipids in the cultured human astroglial cell line UC-11MG during ATP depletion.

The exposure of brain cells to adverse conditions, such as ATP depletion, induces the degradation of membrane phospholipids and the accumulation of free fatty acids. We have investigated the mechanism of membrane breakdown in an in vitro cell injury model. Confluent cells from the human astroglial cell line UC-11MG were treated with sodium iodoacetate to deplete their intracellular ATP. Large amounts of saturated (palmitic acid) and unsaturated (oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acid) free fatty acids as well as diacylglycerols containing prelabeled fatty acids were released from the cells prior to the loss of plasma membrane integrity. The capacity of the cells to reincorporate free fatty acid into membrane phospholipids decreased in parallel with the loss of intracellular ATP, indicating the failure of the acyltransferase pathway. The addition of the phospholipase A2 inhibitors manoalide, mepacrine, or U-26384, or the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122, reduced the severity of cell injury, but did not maintain cell viability. The addition of a battery of protease inhibitors with or without the phospholipase inhibitors had no protective effect. These results suggest that the activation of phospholipases A2 and C coupled with the loss of the reacylation process lead to the breakdown of membrane components during lethal cell injury.

T lymphocyte adhesion to human synovial fibroblasts. Role of cytokines and the interaction between intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and CD11a/CD18.

We studied the adhesion of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes to human synovial fibroblasts stimulated with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), or combinations of these cytokines. T lymphocytes bound poorly to untreated human synovial fibroblasts. IFN gamma treatment resulted in the largest increase in adhesion, followed by TNF alpha and IL-1 beta. Combinations of IFN gamma + TNF alpha and IFN gamma + IL-1 beta had a synergistic effect on intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression and adhesion. The increase in cellular adhesion induced by cytokines correlated with the up-regulation of the number of cells expressing ICAM-1 and the density of antigen/cell. There was no synergistic effect on leukocyte function-associated antigen 3 (LFA-3) or on HLA class I or class II antigen expression. Adhesion was only partially inhibited by anti-ICAM-1, anti-LFA-1, or anti-CD18. These findings suggest the existence of ICAM-1--independent and CD11/CD18-independent adhesion mechanisms. Anti-LFA-3 was completely ineffective as an inhibitor of adhesion. There was no additive or synergistic advantage of using combinations of antibodies to increase the level of inhibition, i.e., anti--ICAM-1 + anti-LFA-3, anti-ICAM-1 + anti-CD18, or anti-ICAM-1 + anti-LFA-1 (CD11a). Our data indicate that proinflammatory cytokines may play a prominent role in the formation and exacerbation of synovial hyperplasia, by regulating the recruitment and retention of T lymphocytes via the up-regulation of adhesion molecules on synovial fibroblasts.

Correlation of leukocyte interleukin-1 production with the stimulation of prostaglandin and tissue factor synthesis by human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Human leukocyte suspensions (neutrophils 80-85%, monocyte 15-20%) were incubated alone or with cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Leukocytes were either directly added to the endothelial cell cultures or separated from them by a 0.4 micron insert filter. Supernatants or cell lysates were obtained at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours of incubation. Supernatants were assayed for the prostacyclin (PGI2) metabolite 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by radioimmunoassay and for interleukin-1 (IL-1) by the thymocyte co-mitogen assay. Cell lysates were analyzed for cell-associated procoagulant activity (PCA). Co-incubation of endothelial cells with leukocytes stimulated the synthesis of PGI2, PGE2, and PCA. These biochemical changes correlated partially with the release of IL-1 beta. The results suggest that IL-1 released in monocyte neutrophil co-cultures can produce prothrombotic (increased PCA expression) and inflammatory changes (increased synthesis of vasodilatory and permeability enhancing PGI2 and PGE2) in endothelial cells. Neutrophils may represent a source of the released IL-1 and/or may act to stimulate monocyte release of this cytokine and thus play an important role in vascular pathology by a mechanism unrelated to their more direct cytotoxic activity.

Interleukin-1 induced vascular pathology "in vivo": a scanning electron-microscopy study.

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) discs containing either 50 U interleukin-1 (IL-1) or 250 mg bovine serum albumin as control were implanted around the exposed jugular veins of rabbits. After 24 hr, the veins were examined by scanning electron-microscopy. Compared with minor changes in control vein lumena, those of EVA-IL-1 treated veins showed extensive endothelial cell denudation and exposure of basement membrane associated with platelet accumulation and adherence/subendothelial migration of leucocytes. These observations suggest that locally-released IL-1 provokes significant vascular pathological changes "in vivo" and emphasise the importance of this cytokine as a mediator of inflammatory and thrombotic/atherosclerotic diseases.

The role of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways in the adhesive interaction between bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes and bovine endothelial cells.

The effects of arachidonic acid metabolites, analogues and cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitors were tested on an "in vitro" bovine model of endothelial cell (EC)-polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adhesion. Arachidonic acid blocked adhesion at 10(-5)M, a dose which also induced aggregation of PMN. Lower doses did not affect either EC-PMN adhesion or PMN aggregation. Various cyclooxygenase pathway metabolites were inactive in the EC-PMN adhesion assay, with the exception of prostaglandin A2 and prostaglandin B2 which significantly suppressed adhesion at 10(-5)M. Of the synthetic analogs tested, 6 alpha-carbaprostacyclin I2, (5Z)-9 beta-ethynyl-calcium salt (U-64,567E) was inhibitory at 10(-5)M. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin and ibuprofen were inactive. Products of the lipoxygenase pathways, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE) exhibited variable inhibitory activity at 10(-5)M only. Paradoxical effects were observed with the putative lipoxygenase inhibitors 4,7,10,13-eicosatetraynoic acid (4,7,10,13 ETYA), 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (5,8,11,14 ETYA) and nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA), which also suppressed EC-PMN adhesion at 10(-5)M. The dual cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755C was inactive. Bovine PMNs did not respond chemotactically to LTB4 although they were able to synthesize the 5-lipoxygenase products LTB4 and 5-HETE.

Increased adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to vascular endothelium by specific interaction of endogenous (interleukin-1) and exogenous (lipopolysaccharide) substances with endothelial cells 'in vitro'.

Cultured human endothelial cells exposed to interleukin-1 (IL-1) exhibited increased adhesiveness for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). This phenomenon was dose-dependent, maximal increased adhesion being observed at 0.25 U/ml IL-1. ECs required a minimum exposure time of 30 min. with IL-1 followed by at least 1-2 hours incubation for expression of increased adhesiveness. Incubation for shorter periods of time did not induce significant changes in EC-PMN adhesion compared with cultures having received no IL-1. No change in adhesion was observed when IL-1 was co-incubated with ECs and PMNs. Similar results were observed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as stimulus. It is concluded that increased adhesion of PMNs to vascular endothelium is mediated by the direct interaction of endogenous (IL-1) and exogenous (LPS) substances with ECs, the expression of which requires a latent period of 1-2 hours and is protein synthesis-dependent. The implications of these novel findings in pathological disease states are discussed.

Heterophile antibodies in the serum of children with nephrotic syndrome.

Serum of children with the nephrotic syndrome contained high titers of a (19S) IgM antibody against sheep, horse, guinea pig, rat, and rabbit red blood cells but not against cow red blood cells. There was high correlation between high titers of antisheep antibodies and active nephrotic syndrome in the children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The antibody differed from the Paul-Bunnell antibody found in patients with infectious mononucleosis and from the anti-Forssman, Hangautziu-Deicher antibody found in patients with horse serum sickness. Rabbit red blood cells completely absorbed the antibody, but horse or guinea pig red blood cells removed only the anti-Forssman activity.

Active E-rosette formation in women taking oral contraceptives.

PIP: On the assumption that the number of E-rosettable lymphocytes (active T lymphocytes) is an index of cell-mediated immunity, rosette assays were performed at early cycle and at midcycle for 6 women taking oral contraceptives (OCs) for 1-4 years. OC subjects at midcycle had 21.4% active rosette-forming lymphocytes as compared with 14.1% in controls (p less than .05). The 2 youngest subjects had higher values during the early cycle. These results imply the possibility of hormonal regulation of human T-cell activity.^ieng