Examination of the inhibitory effect of norathyriol in formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced respiratory burst in rat neutrophils.

Norathyriol, aglycone of a xanthone C-glycoside mangiferin isolated from Tripterospermum lanceolatum, concentration dependently inhibited the formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced superoxide anion (O2.-) generation and O2 consumption in rat neutrophils. In cell-free oxygen radical generating system, norathyriol inhibited the O2.- generation during dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) autoxidation and in hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. fMLP-induced transient elevation of [Ca2/]i and the formation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) were significantly inhibited by norathyriol (30 microM) (about 30 and 46% inhibition, respectively). Norathyriol concentration dependently suppressed the neutrophil cytosolic phospholipase C (PLC). In contrast with the marked attenuation of fMLP-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation (about 70% inhibition at 10 microM norathyriol), norathyriol only slightly modulated the phospholipase D (PLD) activity as determined by the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and, in the presence of ethanol, phosphatidylethanol (PEt). Norathyriol did not modulate the intracellular cyclic AMP level. In the presence of NADPH, the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated particulate NADPH oxidase activity was suppressed by norathyriol in a concentration-dependent manner and the inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to NADPH. Norathyriol inhibited the iodonitrotetrazolium violet (INT) reduction in arachidonic acid (AA)-activated cell-free NADPH oxidase system at the same concentration range as those used in the suppression of PMA-activated particulate NADPH oxidase activity. Taken together, these results suggest that the scavenging ability of norathyriol contributes to the reduction of generated O2.-, however, the inhibition of O2.- generation from neutrophils by norathyriol is attributed to the blockade of PLC pathway, the attenuation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and to the suppression of NADPH oxidase through the interruption of electrons transport.

2-Hydroxymethyl-1-naphthol diacetate (TAC) suppresses the superoxide anion generation in rat neutrophils.

We have investigated the inhibitory effect of 2-hydroxymethyl-1-naphthol diacetate (TAC) on the respiratory burst of rat neutrophils and the underlying mechanism of action was also assessed in this study. TAC caused concentration-related inhibition of the formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) plus dihydrocytochalasin B (CB)- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced superoxide anion (O2*-) generation (IC50 10.2+/-2.3 and 14.1+/-2.4 microM, respectively) and O2 consumption (IC50 9.6+/-2.9 and 13.3+/-2.7 microM, respectively) of neutrophils. TAC did not scavenge the generated O2*- during dihydroxyfumaric acid autoxidation. TAC inhibited both the transient elevation of [Ca2+]i in the presence or absence of [Ca2+]o (IC50 75.9+/-8.9 and 84.7+/-7.9 microM, respectively) and the generation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) (IC50 72.0+/-9.7 microM) in response to fMLP. Cytosolic phospholipase C (PLC) activity was also reduced by TAC at a same range of concentrations. The PMA-induced PKC-beta associated to membrane was attenuated by TAC (about 80% inhibition at 30 microM). Upon exposure to fMLP, the cellular cyclic AMP level was decreased in neutrophils pretreated with TAC. TAC attenuated fMLP-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p42/44 (IC50 17.4+/-1.7 microM), but not p38. The cellular formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and, in the presence of ethanol, phosphatidylethanol (PEt) induced by fMLP was inhibited by TAC in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 25.4+/-2.4 and 25.9+/-1.4 microM, respectively). TAC had no effect on the O2*- generation of PMA-stimulated and arachidonic acid (AA)-stimulated NADPH oxidase preparations. However, TAC caused concentration-related decrease of the membrane associated p47phoX in PMA-stimulated neutrophils (about 80% inhibition at 30 microM). We conclude that inhibition by TAC of the neutrophil respiratory burst is probably attributable to the blockade of the p42/44 MAPK and phospholipase D (PLD) pathways, the membrane translocation of PKC, and to the failure in assembly of a functional NADPH oxidase complex. Blockade of the PLC pathway by TAC probably plays a minor role.

Stimulation of respiratory burst by cyclocommunin in rat neutrophils is associated with the increase in cellular Ca2+ and protein kinase C activity.

In this study, the underlying mechanisms of stimulation by cyclocommunin, a natural pyranoflavonoid, of respiratory burst in rat neutrophils was investigated. Cyclocommunin evoked a concentration-dependent stimulation of superoxide anion (O2*-) generation with a slow onset and long lasting profile. The maximum response (16.4+/-2.3 nmol O2*-/10 min per 10(6) cells) was observed at 3-10 microM cyclocommunin. Cyclocommunin did not activate NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system. Cells pretreated with pertussis toxin or n-butanol did not affect the cyclocommunin-induced O2*- generation. However, a protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine and EGTA greatly reduced the O2*-generation caused by cyclocommunin. Treatment of neutrophils with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not with formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), for 20 min significantly reduced the O2*- generation following the subsequent stimulation of cells with cyclocommunin. Cyclocommunin did not affect the cellular mass of phosphatidic acid (PA). Neither the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, nor the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, SB203580, affected cyclocommunin-induced O2*- generation. The enzyme activities of neutrophil cytosolic and membrane-associated protein kinase C (PKC) were both increased significantly with 100 microM cyclocommunin. The membrane-associated PKC-theta and PKC-beta were increased following the stimulation of neutrophils with 30 and 100 microM cyclocommunin, respectively. Cyclocommunin reduced the [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDB) binding to cytosolic PKC in a concentration-dependent manner. Cyclocommunin (> or =3 microM) significantly evoked a slow and long lasting [Ca2+]i elevation in neutrophils, and a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122 greatly inhibited these Ca2+ responses. Moreover, the increase in cellular inositol bis- and trisphosphate (IP2 and IP3) levels were observed in neutrophils stimulated with 30 microM cyclocommunin for 3 min. Collectively, these results indicate that the stimulation of respiratory burst by cyclocommunin is probably mediated by the synergism of PKC activation and [Ca2+]i elevation in rat neutrophils.

Inhibition by HAJ11 of respiratory burst in neutrophils and the involvement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and phospholipase D activation.

1. The possible mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of ethyl 2-(3-hydroxyanilino)-4-oxo-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylate (HAJ11) on the respiratory burst of rat neutrophils in vitro was investigated. 2. HAJ11 caused a reversible and a concentration-dependent inhibition of formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-induced superoxide anion (O2.-) generation (IC50 4.9 +/- 0.7 microM) and O2 consumption (IC50 4.9 +/- 1.5 microM). Concanavalin A (Con A)- and NaF-induced O2.- generation were also suppressed by HAJ11. However, HAL11 was a weak inhibitor of the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced responses. 3. HAJ11 did not scavenge the /2.- generation in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) autoxidation. 4. HAJ11 showed no activity on fMLP-induced inositol phosphates formation and [Ca2+]i elevation in intact neutrophils. In addition, HAJ11 had no effect on neutrophil cytosolic phospholipase C (PLC) activity. 5. HAJ11 reduced fMLP-induced phosphatidic acid (PA) (IC50 29.1 +/- 6.5 microM) and phosphatidylethanol (PE+) (IC50 22.6 +/- 1.9 microM) formation in a concentration-dependent manner. HAJ11 also reduced protein tyrosine phosphorylation in neutrophils stimulated by fMLP. 6. HAJ11 was a weak inhibitor of neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) activity, and had a negligible effect on brain PKC. Cellular cyclic nucleotides levels were not altered by HAJ11. In addition, HAJ11 did not affect protein kinase A (PKA) activity. 7. HAJ11 had not effect on the O2.- generation of PMA-activated and arachidonic acid (AA)-activated NADPH oxidase preparations. 8. Taken together these results indicate that the inhibition of respiratory burst by HAJ11 probably mainly occurs through inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and phospholipase D (PLD) activity.

Cellular localization of the inhibitory action of abruquinone A against respiratory burst in rat neutrophils.

1. The possible mechanisms of action of the inhibitory effect of abruquinone A on the respiratory burst in rat neutrophils in vitro was investigated. 2. Abruquinone A caused an irreversible and a concentration-dependent inhibition of formylmethionylleucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) plus dihydrocytochalasin B (CB)- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced superoxide anion (O2.-) generation with IC50 values of 0.33 +/- 0.05 microgram ml-1 and 0.49 +/- 0.04 microgram ml-1, respectively. 3. Abruquinone A also inhibited O2 consumption in neutrophils in response to fMLP/CB and PMA. However, abruquinone A did not scavenge the generated O2.- in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and during dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) autoxidation. 4. Abruquinone A inhibited both the transient elevation of [Ca2+]i in the absence of [Ca2+]o (IC50 7.8 +/- 0.2 micrograms ml-1) and the generation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) (IC50 10.6 +/- 2.0 micrograms ml-1) in response to fMLP. 5. Abruquinone A did not affect the enzyme activaties of neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) and porcine heart protein kinase A (PKA). 6. Abruquinone A had no effect on intracellular guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) levels but decreased the adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels. 7. The cellular formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt) induced by fMLP/ CB was inhibited by abruquinone A with IC50 values of 2.2 +/- 0.6 micrograms ml-1 and 2.5 +/- 0.3 micrograms ml-1, respectively. Abruquinone A did not inhibit the fMLP/CB-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation but induced additional phosphotyrosine accumulation on proteins of 73-78 kDa in activated neutrophils. 8. Abruquinone A inhibited both the O2.- generation in PMA-activated neutrophil particulate NADPH oxidase (IC50 0.6 +/- 0.1 microgram ml-1) and the iodonitrotetrazolium violet (INT) reduction in arachidonic acid (AA)-activated cell-free system (IC50 1.5 +/- 0.2 micrograms ml-1) 9. Collectively, these results indicate that the inhibition of respiratory burst in rat neutrophils by abruquinone A is mediated partly by the blockade of phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD) pathways, and by suppressing the function of NADPH oxidase through the interruption of electron transport.

Investigation of the inhibition by acetylshikonin of the respiratory burst in rat neutrophils.

1. The ability of acetylshikonin to inhibit the respiratory burst in rat neutrophils was characterized and the underlying mechanism of action was also assessed in the present study. 2. Acetylshikonin caused an irreversible and a concentration-dependent inhibition of formylmethionylleucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) plus dihydrocytochalasin B (CB)- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced superoxide anion (O2.-) generation with IC50 values of 0.48 +/- 0.03 and 0.39 +/- 0.03 microM, respectively. Acetylshikonin also inhibited the O2 consumption in neutrophils in response to fMLP/CB as well as to PMA. 3. Acetylshikonin did not scavenge the generated O2.- in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system or during dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) autoxidation but, on the contrary, acetylshikonin enhanced the O2.- generation in these cell-free oxygen radical generating systems. 4. Acetylshikonin inhibited the formation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) (39.0 +/- 7.8% inhibition at 10 microM, P < 0.05) in neutrophils in response to fMLP. 5. Both the neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) activity and the PMA-induced PKC associated with the membrane were unaffected by acetylshikonin. 6. Acetylshikonin did not affect the porcine heart protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Upon exposure to acetylshikonin, the cellular cyclic AMP level was decreased in neutrophils in response to fMLP. 7. The cellular formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and, in the presence of ethanol, phosphatidylethanol (PEt) induced by fMLP/CB were inhibited by acetylshikonin (60.1 +/- 7.3 and 63.2 +/- 10.5% inhibition, respectively, at 10 microM, both P < 0.05). Moreover, acetylshikonin attenuated the fMLP/CB-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation (about 90% inhibition at 1 microM). 8. In PMA-activated neutrophil particulate NADPH oxidase preparations, acetylshikonin did not inhibit, but enhanced, the O2.- generation in the presence of NADPH. However, acetylshikonin decreased the membrane associated p47phox in PMA-activated neutrophils (about 60% inhibition at 1 microM). 9. Collectively, these results suggest that the attenuation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and a failure in the assembly of a functional NADPH oxidase complex probably contribute predominantly to the inhibition of respiratory burst in neutrophils by acetylshikonin. In contrast, the blockade of phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD) pathways play only a minor role in this respect.

The signal transduction mechanism involved in kazinol B-stimulated superoxide anion generation in rat neutrophils.

1. In this study, the underlying mechanism of stimulation of respiratory burst by kazinol B, a natural isoprenylated flavan, in rat neutrophils in vitro was investigated. 2. Kazinol B concentration-dependently stimulated the superoxide anion (O2*-) generation, with a lag but transient activation profile, in neutrophils but not in a cell-free system. The maximum response (13.2+/-1.4 nmol O2*- 10 min(-1) per 10(6) cells) was observed at 10 microM kazinol B. 3. Pretreatment of neutrophils with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) significantly enhanced the O2*- generation following the subsequent stimulation of cells with kazinol B. 4. Cells pretreated with EGTA or a protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine effectively attenuated the kazinol B-induced O2*- generation. However, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 and a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin had no effect on the kazinol B-induced response. 5. Kazinol B significantly stimulated [Ca2+]i elevation in neutrophils, with a lag and slow rate of rise activation profile, and this response was attenuated by a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122. Kazinol B also stimulated the inositol bis- and trisphosphate (IP2 and IP3) formation with a 1 min lag time. 6. The membrane-associated PKC-alpha and PKC-theta but not PKC-iota were increased following the stimulation of neutrophils with kazinol B. It was more rapid and sensitive in the activation of PKC-theta than PKC-alpha by kazinol B. Kazinol B partially inhibited the [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDB) binding to the neutrophil cytosolic PKC. 7. Neither the cellular mass of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt), in the presence of ethanol, nor the protein tyrosine phosphorylation were stimulated by kazinol B. In addition, the kazinol B-induced O2*- generation remained relatively unchanged in cells pretreated with ethanol or a tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. 8. Collectively, these results indicate that the stimulation of the respiratory burst by kazinol B is probably mediated by the synergism of PKC activation and [Ca2+]i elevation in rat neutrophils.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to c-jun inhibits proliferation of transformed NIH 3T3 cells induced by E5a of HPV-11.

E5a of HPV-11 is a transforming oncogene. Previously, we had shown that the E5a gene is required only for the initiation of transformation; c-jun might be involved in the maintenance of transformation. In this study, we exposed E5a transformed NIH 3T3 cells to antisense oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the 24 nucleotides corresponding to the translation initiation site of the c-jun gene, and examined the effects of this treatment on cell proliferation. Results show that antisense c-jun oligodeoxynucleotides could repress c-jun production and inhibit cell proliferation in E5a transformed cells.

Retinoic acid represses the gene expression of topoisomerase II in HEP3B cells.

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) affects cell growth and regulates gene expression. We examined the expression of topoisomerase 11 gene in Hep3B cells treated with RA. At low RA concentration which did not significantly affect the growth rate of Hep3B cells, RA inhibited the synthesis of topoisomerase II mRNA as revealed by Northern analysis and nuclear run-on analysis. These results indicated that the repression of topoisomerase II gene expression could be directly induced by RA rather than was a secondary event which occurred after cell growth was inhibited by RA. An unexpected finding is that after up to 72 h continuous exposure to RA, the topoisomerase II protein concentration remained unchanged.

Evidence for the involvement of protein kinase C inhibition by norathyriol in the reduction of phorbol ester-induced neutrophil superoxide anion generation and aggregation.

Norathyriol, a xanthone aglycone, inhibited superoxide anion (O2-) generation and O2 consumption in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated rat neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, norathyriol inhibited PMA- but enhanced formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced neutrophil aggregation. Norathyriol suppressed neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C as well as rat brain protein kinase C over the same range of concentrations at which it inhibited the respiratory burst. Norathyriol did not affect [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDB) binding to neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C, but effectively attenuated trypsin-treated rat brain protein kinase C activity. Moreover, norathyriol was found to be a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to ATP and peptide substrate (N-terminal acetylated, amino acid sequence 4-14 of the myelin basic protein, Ac-MBP-(4-14)). Unlike staurosporine, norathyriol did not affect porcine heart protein kinase A activity. On the immunoblot analysis of protein kinase C subcellular distribution, the PMA-induced translocation of protein kinase C-beta from the cytosol to the membrane was not affected by norathyriol. These results show that the inhibition by a plant product, norathyriol, of PMA-induced respiratory burst and aggregation is, at least partly, attributed to the direct suppression of protein kinase C activity through blockade of the catalytic region, but is not due to interference with the membrane translocation of protein kinase C during PMA-induced cell activation.

Investigation of the inhibitory effect of broussochalcone A on respiratory burst in neutrophils.

Broussochalcone A, a prenylated chalcone isolated from Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) VENT. (Moraceae), inhibited O2 consumption in formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated rat neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 70.3 +/- 4.9 and 63.9 +/- 7.1 microM, respectively. Broussochalcone A did not affect the fMLP-induced increase of cellular inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and [Ca2+]i. However, the enzyme activity of neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C was effectively suppressed by broussochalcone A. Broussochalcone A had no effect on either [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDB) binding to neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C or on PMA-induced membrane translocation of protein kinase C-beta in neutrophils. Broussochalcone A suppressed the enzyme activity of trypsin-treated rat brain protein kinase C in a concentration-dependent manner. In PMA-activated neutrophil particulate NADPH oxidase, broussochalcone A attenuated superoxide anion radical (O2.-) generation with an IC50 value of 61.8 +/- 5.4 microM. These results show that the inhibitory effect of broussochalcone A on respiratory burst in neutrophils is not mediated by the reduction of phospholipase C activity, but is mediated partly by the suppression of protein kinase C activity through interference with the catalytic region and by the attenuation of O2.- generation from the NADPH oxidase complex.

Blockade of protein kinase C is involved in the inhibition by cycloheterophyllin of neutrophil superoxide anion generation.

Cycloheterophyllin, a prenylflavone, inhibited the superoxide anion (O2-) generation from formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated rat neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 47.0 +/- 5.0 and 1.7 +/- 0.4 microM, respectively. Cycloheterophyllin had no effect on O2- generation in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and during dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) autoxidation. Cycloheterophyllin exerted a concentration-dependent inhibition of neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) and rat brain PKC, but had no effect on porcine heart protein kinase A (PKA). Unlike staurosporine, cycloheterophyllin did not affect the trypsin-treated rat brain PKC. [3H]Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDB) binding to neutrophil cytosolic PKC was significantly suppressed by cycloheterophyllin. However, cycloheterophyllin had negligible effect on the PMA-induced membrane translocation of PKC-beta and PKC-delta in neutrophils. Moreover, the fMLP-induced [Ca2+]i elevation and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) formation of neutrophils were not affected by cycloheterophyllin at concentrations which significantly suppressed the O2- generation. In cell-free system, addition of arachidonate (AA) into the mixture of cytosol and membrane fractions of the resting neutrophils to make NADPH oxidase assembly and activation. Cycloheterophyllin had no effect on O2- generation in AA-activated cell-free system. These results suggest that the suppression of PKC activity through the interaction with the regulatory region of PKC is involved in the inhibition by cycloheterophyllin of the O2- generation in rat neutrophils.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory effect of chalcones.

The process of degranulation of mast cells and neutrophils contributes to inflammatory disorders. Activation of microglial cells and macrophages is believed to be involved in inflammatory, infectious and degenerative diseases of the CNS. Combining the potent inhibition of chemical mediators released by the degranulation of mast cells or neutrophils and from the activated microglial cells or macrophages, would lead to a promising anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of peripheral and central inflammation. A series of chalcone derivatives have been reported to have potent anti-inflammatory activity. In an effort to continually develop potent anti-inflammatory agents, novel series of chalcones, 2'-hydroxy- and 2',5'-dihydroxychalcones were synthesized and their inhibitory effects on the activation of mast cells, neutrophils, microglial cells and macrophages were evaluated in-vitro. The chalcones were prepared by Claisen-Schmidt condensation of appropriate acetophenones with an appropriate aromatic aldehyde. The alkoxychalcones were prepared with appropriate hydroxychalcones and alkyl iodide and the dihydroxychalcones were prepared by hydrogenation of an appropriate chalcone with Pd/C. Almost all of the hydroxychalcones exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from rat neutrophils stimulated with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Of the hydroxychalcones, compound 1 was the most potent inhibitor of the release of beta-glucuronidase (IC50=1.6+/-0.2 microM) and lysozyme (IC50=1.4+/-0.2 microM) from rat neutrophils stimulated with fMLP/CB. Almost all of the 2',5'-dialkoxychalcones exhibited potent inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) formation from murine microglial cell lines N9 stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Of these, compound 11 showed the greatest effect (IC50=0.7+/-0.06 microM). The present results demonstrated that most of the chalcone derivatives have an anti-inflammatory effect. The inhibitory effects of dialkoxychalcones, 10-12 on inflammation are probably not due to the inhibition of mast cells and neutrophil degranulation, but are mediated through the suppression of NO formation from N9 cells.

Inhibition by magnolol of formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenyl alanine-induced respiratory burst in rat neutrophils.

The influence of the plant product magnolol on neutrophil superoxide anion (O2-*) generation has been investigated in the rat. Intraperitoneal injection of magnolol (30mg kg(-1)) significantly inhibited the formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced respiratory burst in rat whole blood ex-vivo. Magnolol also inhibited the 02-* generation with an IC50 (concentration resulting in 50% inhibition) of 15.4+/-1.6 microM and O2 consumption in rat neutrophils in-vitro. Magnolol weakly inhibited the O2-* generation in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, decreased cellular cyclic AMP level and had no effect on cyclic GMP levels. It weakly inhibited neutrophil cytosolic protein kinase C activity but did not alter porcine heart protein kinase A activity. Magnolol attenuated fMLP-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation with an IC50 of 24.0+/-1.9 microM and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase p42/44 with an IC50 of 28.5+/-4.5 microM. However, magnolol alone activated neutrophil phospholipase D activity as determined by the formation of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidyl-ethanol in the presence of ethanol. In the presence of NADPH, the arachidonate-activated NADPH oxidase activity in a cell-free system was weakly suppressed by magnolol. These results suggest that the inhibition of respiratory burst in fMLP-activated neutrophils by magnolol is probably attributable mainly to the attenuation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, and partly to the suppression of protein kinase C and NADPH oxidase activities.

Translocation of protein kinase C isoforms in rat neutrophils.

In this study, we examined the protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms present in cytosol and membrane fractions of rat neutrophils by Western blotting analysis with monoclonal antibodies against PKC isoforms and demonstrated that rat neutrophils express at least three conventional PKCs (cPKC), alpha, beta and gamma, four novel PKCs (nPKC), delta, epsilon, theta and mu, and three atypical PKCs (aPKC), iota, lambda and zeta, although PKC lambda and zeta were barely detected. Cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induce a sustained and marked translocation of cPKC and nPKC from the cytosol to particulate fraction. A concentration-dependence of PMA on the membrane translocation of PKC isoforms was observed. Treatment with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), in contrast with PMA, caused a transient and less prominent association of cPKC and nPKC with particulate fraction. However, the distribution of PKC iota isoform was affected neither by fMLP nor by PMA. These data indicate that the rat neutrophils contain PKCs of three isoform families and the membrane translocation of cPKC and nPKC was observed in cells in response to PMA as well as to fMLP.

In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin 3-O-methyl ether and other constituents from Rhamnus species.

The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated flavonoids, quercetin 3-O-methyl ether (1), kaempferol (2), and quercetin (3), of Rhamnus nakaharai, and anthraquinone, frangulin B (4), of Rhamnus formosana, were assessed in vitro by determining their inhibitory effects on the chemical mediators released from mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and microglial cells. Compounds 1 - 3 strongly inhibited the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from rat neutrophils stimulated with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Compound 1 strongly inhibited superoxide anion formation in fMLP/CB or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated rat neutrophils. Compound 1 exhibited potent inhibitory effect on tumor-necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-alpha) formation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells while 1 and 4 showed potent inhibitory effects on TNF-alpha formation in LPS/IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma)-stimulated murine microglial cell lines N9.

E5a gene of human papillomavirus type 11 is required for initiation but not for maintenance of transformation in NIH 3T3 cells.

We have previously shown that the E5a gene of human papilloma virus type 11 (HPV-11/HPV-6c) is a transforming oncogene. In order to dissect the biological consequences of E5a gene expression we utilized the lac operator/repressor system to manipulate E5a gene expression. Cells were cotransfected with the lac repressor gene and the E5a gene that had been inserted downstream of a simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter containing the lac operator sequence. The expression of E5a gene could therefore be repressed by binding of lac repressor to the lac operator sequence in proximity to this SV40 regulatory region. The transfected cells were cultured in the presence of the inducer IPTG and under G418 selection. IPTG derepressed E5a gene expression by binding to the repressor and reducing its affinity for the lac operator sequence. In these studies, we found that E5a-transformed cells still maintained the transformed phenotype as judged by growth density, cell morphology and anchorage-independent growth when E5a gene expression was repressed. We also found that c-jun expression was induced 3 h after E5a expression was induced by IPTG and c-jun expression was not shut down after repression of E5a expression. This is the first demonstration that the E5a gene of HPV-11 initiates transformation of NIH 3T3 cells but is dispensable for maintenance of the transformed phenotype.

New lignan glycosides with potent antiinflammatory effect, isolated from Justicia ciliata.

Two new lignan glycosides, 4-O-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1' "-->2' ')-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1' " '-->5' ')-beta-D-apiofuranosyl]diphyllin (1), named ciliatoside A (1), and 4-O-¿[beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1' " "-->3' ")-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1' "-->2' ')][beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1' " '-->5' ')]-beta-D-apiofuranosyl¿diphyllin (2), named ciliatoside B (2), were isolated from the whole plant of Justicia ciliata. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectral and chemical methods. Compounds 1 and 2 strongly inhibited the accumulation of NO(2)(-) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 27.1 +/- 1.6 and 29.4 +/- 1.4 microM, respectively.

Two phenanthraquinones from Dendrobium moniliforme.

Two phenanthraquinones were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium moniliforme. They were identified by interpretation of spectral data as 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4,5,8-phenanthradiquinone and 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthraquinone, named moniliformin (1) and denbinobin (2), respectively. This is the first report of compound 1, which possesses a novel 1,4,5,8-diquinone moiety in the phenanthraquinone skeleton. Compound 2 showed potent antiinflammatory effects in vitro.