Biomedical subjects

A Bast

Publications and source records attributed to A Bast.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Plasticisers, another burden for asthmatics?

The widely used plasticiser di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) has been reported to have some toxicological effects on pulmonary tissue. Inhalation of DEHP may cause pulmonary edema and bronchial asthma. Moreover intravenous injection of DEHP induces pulmonary inflammation and hemorrhage of the lungs. We now report that DEHP might cause bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The metabolite of DEHP mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) induces in vitro a dose-dependent increase in -log EC50 for methacholine dose response curves in rat tracheal tissue. Moreover MEHP induces a decrease in maximal effect of the methacholine dose response curve. We concluded that DEHP due to the formation of MEHP in vivo, may cause bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1990

Oxidative stress and receptor responses in guinea-pig tracheal tissue.

Reactive oxygen species are formed during inflammatory reactions in the lung. Alveolar macrophages and neutrophils and eosinophils produce superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen. Neutrophils and eosinophils produce also hypochlorous acid. We now present the effects of hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid on muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptor responses of guinea pig tracheal tissue. Hydrogen peroxide (up to 10 mM) has no effect on these receptor responses, but in contrast hypochlorous acid destructs the muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptor response. The beta-adrenergic receptor response is more susceptible to hypochlorous acid treatment than the muscarinic receptor response. This indicates that hypchlorous acid induces an autonomic imbalance between parasympatic and sympatic receptor responses in the guinea pig trachea.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Identification of beta 2-adrenoceptors on guinea pig alveolar macrophages using (-)-3-[125I]iodocyanopindolol.

The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (-)-3-[125I]iodocyanopindolol ([125I]ICYP) binds with high affinity and in saturable way to membranes of guinea pig alveolar macrophages. The equilibrium dissociation constant for [125I]ICYP is 24.3 +/- 1.2 pM, and the number of binding sites is 166.3 +/- 13.7 fmol/mg protein (N = 4, +/- SEM). Displacement studies with selective antagonists showed that [125I]ICYP labels beta 2-adrenoceptors on guinea pig alveolar macrophages.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1990

Labelling of non-H1-receptor binding sites by [3H]-mepyramine on the rat liver plasma membrane.

In the present study we characterized [3H]-mepyramine binding to rat liver plasma membranes. Binding of [3H]-mepyramine proved to be of high affinity (Kd = 7.7 +/- 0.4 nM) and saturable, resulting in a Bmax-value of 70.4 +/- 9.5 pmol/mg protein. However, displacement studies revealed that this binding site was different from other H1-receptor systems. The two stereoisomers of chlorpheniramine were rather ineffective in displacing [3H]-mepyramine and showed a stereospecificity in favour of the L-isomer. Also several H1-receptor agonists were not potent in displacing [3H]-mepyramine from rat liver plasma membranes. Moreover, the histamine metabolite imidazole-4-acetic acid was about as potent as the H1-agonists, whereas imidazole was even more potent. These data strongly suggest that [3H]-mepyramine labels a non-H1-receptor binding site on the rat liver plasma membrane.

Aminopyridines↗

PubMed1990

Cytochrome P-450 metabolic-intermediate complex formation with a series of diphenhydramine analogues.

A series of diphenhydramine analogues have been studied with regard to their formation of a metabolic intermediate (MI) during their biotransformation in phenobarbital induced rat hepatic microsomes. The MI forms a complex with reduced cytochrome P-450. MI complexation of cytochrome P-450 may result in drug-drug interactions and/or in cumulation of the parent compound. The extent of MI complex formation could be correlated with the lipophilicity of the substrates in a parabolic manner. A hydrophobic pocket of limited dimensions in cytochrome P-450 for the N-alkyl substituent of the substrates can be assumed. Moreover our data indicate a role for the O-atom in the diphenhydramine analogues for the interaction with cytochrome P-450.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Irreversible H2-antagonism of the four isomeric butyl analogues of mifentidine.

It has been hypothesized that bidentate hydrogen bonding plays an important role in the interaction of imidazolylphenylformamidines with the H2-receptor. The present study, in which the degree of pseudo-irreversible H2-antagonism of the four isomeric butyl substituted mifentidine analogues was determined on the spontaneously beating right atrium of the male guinea-pig, lends further support to this hypothesis. In solution the EE/EZ ratio is different for the four isomeric butylated mifentidine analogues. The rank order of the percentage of E,E conformation, which favors a bidentate interaction, of the formamidine moiety parallels the rank order of pseudo-irreversible H2-antagonism.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Essential thiol and disulphide groups in the histamine H1-receptor signal transfer of guinea-pig parenchymal lung strips.

Guinea-pig parenchymal lung strips contract after H1-receptor stimulation and membrane depolarisation with KCl. Contractions after 50 mM KCl were similar to the maximal histamine response. Treatment of lung strips with micromolar concentrations of the thiol-alkylator N-ethylmaleimide markedly affects both histamine H1-receptor mediated and 50 mM KCl-induced contractions. The H1-receptor response was only affected via a decrease in the maximal response. The response to 50 mM KCl was also inhibited after thiol-alkylation. However, H1-receptor responses appeared to be slightly more sensitive towards thiol-alkylation compared to KCl-responses. Reduction of disulphide groups with 1,4-dithiothreitol also modified the contractile responses to both stimuli. It is concluded that both thiol- and disulphide moieties play important roles in the regulation of histamine H1-receptor activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Autoinhibition of histamine release by H3 receptors in rat brain cortex depends on stimulation frequency.

Rat cortical slices preloaded with [3H]histidine released [3H]histamine upon electrical stimulation or after depolarization with elevated K+ levels. The release was dependent on the presence of Ca2+, suggesting a neurosecretory process. Histamine has been shown to inhibit its own release mediated by an autoreceptor belonging to the H3-receptor subclass. In this study we have investigated the autoinhibition using different electrical field stimulation conditions (1, 10, 20 and 33.3 Hz). Applying electrical stimulation, the inhibition of [3H]histamine release by histamine is decreased when the stimulation frequency is elevated. When stimulated with 1 Hz histamine is able to block [3H]histamine release completely, with a p(EC50) of 8.1 +/- 0.1. At higher frequencies histamine still blocks [3H]histamine release completely, but with a lower p(EC50).

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Copper complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline and related compounds as superoxide dismutase mimetics.

In a preliminary study we tested CuSO4.5H2O, (Cu(II]2[3,5-diisopropylsalicylate]4.2H2O and a number of copper complexes of substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines for superoxide anion dismutase activity. It appeared that this activity depends on the ligands involved and might be governed by the redox potential of the Cu(I) complex/Cu(II) complex couple. The strong superoxide anion dismutase activity of Cu(II)[DMP]2 complex can be expected considering its high redox potential. Rather surprisingly is the superoxide anion dismutase activity of the Cu(I)[DMP]2 complex since it involves oxidation to Cu(II)[DMP]2 complex. From regression analysis it was established that steric and field effects of the substituents of the investigated phenanthrolines play an important role in SOD activity and therefore it is concluded that complex formation is important for the superoxide dismutase-like activity.

Copper↗

PubMed1990

Reduction of beta-adrenoceptor function by oxidative stress in the heart.

The effect of oxidative stress on beta-adrenoceptor function in the heart was determined. To this end ventricle membranes, field-stimulated rat left atria and field-stimulated rat right ventricle strips were exposed to 0.1 mM cumene hydroperoxide for 20 min. It was found that oxidative stress increased beta-adrenoceptor number and reduced c-AMP formation in the ventricle membranes. In the rat left atria and rat right ventricle strips the efficacy of beta-adrenoceptor agonists was reduced to approximately 30% of the control value, whereas maximal beta-adrenoceptor-mediated response was reduced to 50%. Using membranes from control atria and from atria exposed to oxidative stress, it was found that oxidative stress had no effect on beta-adrenoceptor density, nor on the affinity of (-)isoproterenol for the receptor. c-AMP production in membranes prepared from atria exposed to oxidative stress was reduced to approximately 30% of the c-AMP production in membranes prepared of control atria. In addition, it was found that the shape of the function that transduces the stimulus which is generated by receptor activation into an effect, is not altered by oxidative stress. It was concluded that the reduction of the efficacy of beta-adrenoceptor agonists by oxidative stress is probably caused by the reduction of c-AMP formation. Because the efficacy of forskolin and of dibutyryl c-AMP was not affected by oxidative stress, the reduced c-AMP formation is probably caused by an impaired coupling between the receptor and adenylate cyclase. The reduction of maximal beta-adrenoceptor-mediated response might be the result of cytotoxic aldehydes that are produced during oxidative stress. In ischemia, catecholamine release and subsequent beta-adrenoceptor hyperstimulation lead to cardiotoxicity. As shown in the present study, oxidative stress reduces beta-adrenoceptor function. This might represent a protective physiological feedback mechanism that protects the heart against excessive beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

PubMed1990

Oxygen radicals in lung pathology.

Pulmonary tissue can be damaged in different ways, for instance by xenobiotics (paraquat, butylated hydroxytoluene, bleomycin), during inflammation, ischemia reperfusion, or exposure to mineral dust or to normobaric pure oxygen levels. Reactive oxygen species are partly responsible for the observed pulmonary tissue damage. Several mechanisms leading to toxicity are described in this review. The reactive oxygen species induce bronchoconstriction, elevate mucus secretion, and cause microvascular leakage, which leads to edema formation. Reactive oxygen species even induce an autonomic imbalance between muscarinic receptor-mediated contraction and the beta-adrenergic-mediated relaxation of the pulmonary smooth muscle. Vitamin E and selenium have a regulatory role in this balance between these two receptor responses. The autonomic imbalance might be involved in the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, occurring in lung inflammation. Finally, several antioxidants are discussed which may be beneficial as therapeutics in several lung diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Different profiles of desensitization dynamics in guinea-pig jejunal longitudinal smooth muscle after stimulation with histamine and methacholine.

1. In the present study we investigated desensitization phenomena of guinea-pig jejunal longitudinal smooth muscle responses after stimulation with 100 microM histamine or methacholine, using a superfusion method. 2. Histamine H1-receptor-mediated contractions appear to be rapidly reduced after application of 100 microM histamine. Muscarinic responses were not affected following desensitization with 100 microM histamine, indicating a homologous desensitization. 3. Initial contractions to 0.3 microM histamine were reduced by 90%, recovered quickly, but did not reach control levels within 1 h. Desensitization of histamine responses could be separated into two phases; a rapid, but transient, desensitization and a more sustained desensitization. As a consequence of this sustained effect the pD2 for histamine shifted from 6.7 +/- 0.1 (control) to 6.1 +/- 0.1 (desensitized). 4. Desensitization with 100 microM methacholine caused a heterologous desensitization, reflected by the development of a refractory period, in which neither histamine nor methacholine was able to elicit a contraction. After a few minutes responses to both agents recovered to control levels. 5. During the refractory period after methacholine desensitization, muscle strips were still responsive to 40 mM KCl but did not contract in response to 10 mM caffeine, suggesting that the heterologous desensitization is caused by a modification of an intracellular Ca2(+)-store, which is used by both histamine and methacholine. 6. The recovery of the responses after methacholine desensitization was not dependent on extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that the recovery is not dependent on refilling of the intracellular Ca2+ store with extracellular Ca2+. 7. The protein kinase C activator, phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, concentration-dependently inhibited histamine- and methacholine-induced contractions. Protein kinase C seems therefore not to be implicated in the observed homologous H,-receptor desensitization. 8. These data suggest that different forms of desensitization can be distinguished in this model, each with a different time course and dependent on the applied stimulus.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Regulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic receptor responses in the rat trachea by epithelium: influence of mechanical and chemical removal of epithelium.

Removal of the epithelial layer of rat tracheal tissue did not affect the methacholine-induced contraction of the tracheal smooth muscle, but attenuated the (-)-isoprenaline induced relaxation (expressed as percentage of the methacholine contraction). In this way the epithelial layer seemed to play a role in the maintenance of an autonomic balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic receptor responses. Incubation of rat tracheal tissue with cumene hydroperoxide (3 x 10(-5)-10(-3) M) resulted in a dose-dependent destruction and (partial) removal of the epithelial layer. Cumene hydroperoxide diminished muscarinic receptor responses of the rat trachea. Moreover, the autonomic balance between muscarinic and beta-adrenoceptor responses was affected. The effects of cumene hydroperoxide on receptor responses were more pronounced after epithelium removal. The protective role of the epithelial layer of pulmonary tissue against oxidative stress has therefore been emphasized.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Mineral dust exposure and free radical-mediated lung damage.

Chronic exposure to several types of mineral dust particles induces an inflammatory reaction in the lung. Dust particles activate alveolar macrophages and prime leukocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), leading to an enhanced release of reactive oxygen species. Sometimes mineral dust particles also contain radicals. Reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxygen) may lead to tissue damage. These are able to break DNA strands, to destroy proteins, and to induce the process of lipid peroxidation. The effects of oxygen radicals on the beta-adrenergic and muscarinic receptor response of the guinea pig and rat tracheal strip are described. The beta-adrenergic receptor response appeared to be more susceptible to oxidative stress than the muscarinic receptor response. This may lead to an autonomic imbalance on exposure to oxygen radicals. The lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal diminished the beta-adrenergic responsiveness in guinea pig tracheal preparations. Histologic examinations indicated that at low concentrations of cumene hydroperoxide (10(-4) M) the epithelial layer of rat trachea was already destroyed, whereas no effect on the muscarinic response was found. Oxygen radical-mediated damage in lung tissue may lead to lung emphysema, hyperresponsiveness, and hypersensitivity. Pharmacotherapeutic interventions that prevent initiation or propagation of these free radical reactions may have a beneficial effect in mineral dust-associated lung disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Evidence for cell type dependent mechanisms in agonist-induced down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors.

Processing of the beta-adrenoceptors by mammalian tumor cells, Chang liver cells and HeLa cells both containing beta-2-adrenoceptors, was studied using 125I-labeled iodocyanopindolol and 3H-labeled CGP12177. No difference could be detected between the results obtained with these two ligands. During desensitization of these cells by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol a time dependent decrease of intracellular cyclic-AMP was accompanied by loss of beta-adrenoceptors. The loss of receptors could not be prevented by the cytoskeleton disrupting agents colchicine and cytochalasin B. The effect of the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine is dependent upon the cell type. It showed no effect on the agonist-induced down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors on Chang liver cells in contrast to a prominent inhibiting effect on HeLa cells. These results highly suggest that lysosomal enzymes are involved in the process of down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors on certain cell types only. Colchicine and cytochalasin B, as well as Gpp(NH)p were able to uncouple the guanine nucleotide binding protein and the beta-adrenoceptor. This uncoupling however, did not inhibit the loss of receptors measured by radioligand binding techniques during challenge with agonists. From experiments performed to separate membrane fractions on non-linear sucrose gradients it cannot be concluded that receptors are redistributed intracellular or in the plane of the membrane. Withdrawal of the agonist during receptor down-regulation resulted in the reappearance of measurable receptors within 20 hr for receptors on HeLa cells and within 60 hr for Chang liver cells. The reappearance of receptors could be totally blocked by cycloheximide, indicating that these receptors were newly synthesized and not internalized receptors. From the results of our experiments it is concluded that beta-adrenoceptors, present on Chang liver cells and HeLa cells are down-regulated during desensitization by isoproterenol without uptake in intracellular structures of the cells. The fate of these down-regulated receptors remains unclear. It is also concluded that no universal mechanism can be proposed for beta-adrenoceptor down-regulation on mammalian cells.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

PubMed1990

A beta adrenoceptor with atypical characteristics is involved in the relaxation of the rat small intestine.

In several studies in guinea pig ileum or rat colon a beta adrenoceptor with characteristics distinct from beta-1 or beta-2 receptors has been observed and has been denoted as "atypical" beta adrenoceptor. In this study the relaxation of the rat small intestine was investigated, using isolated segments of the rat jejunum. Several beta-1 or beta-2 agonists and antagonists were tested on the rat jejunum preparation, and it was found that nonselective and selective antagonists for beta-1 or beta-2 receptors showed a relatively low affinity, compared to their affinity for beta-1 or beta-2 receptors. BRL 37344, an agonist which has been reported to be selective for the atypical beta adrenoceptor, was more potent although a partial agonist compared to isoprenaline, whereas it is clearly less active than isoprenaline on beta-1 or beta-2 receptors. These findings indicate that beta adrenergic relaxation of the rat small intestine is mediated via atypical beta adrenoceptors. Efforts were made to confirm these findings with binding studies on small intestinal 45,000-g membranes. Competition radioligand binding experiments were performed with the radiolabeled ligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol and the various antagonists which were also tested in the intact rat jejunum preparations. Receptor binding experiments only revealed beta adrenoceptors of the beta-2-subtype, which does not correspond with the results obtained in the jejunum relaxation. Probably the beta-2 receptors found in the binding studies are located on circular smooth muscle cells or on epithelial cells, whereas longitudinal smooth relaxation is mediated by atypical beta adrenoceptors. Atypical beta adrenoceptors were not measured in binding studies probably because [125I]iodocyanopindolol is an unsuitable ligand to label atypical intestinal beta adrenoceptors.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1990

Intestinal motility disorder induced by peroxides: possible role of lipid peroxidation.

The effect of oxidative stress on the rat small intestine was investigated by pretreatment of isolated segments from the jejunum with hydrogen peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide. Both peroxides induced responses in the small intestine, viz. a contraction followed by a slow relaxation. The contraction could be blocked by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin and the phospholipase A2 inhibitor quinacrine, suggesting a role for prostaglandins in the response. Pretreatment of intestinal segments with the peroxides diminished the muscarinic cholinergic response to methacholine. The lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) both protected against the damage induced by cumene hydroperoxide, but did not influence the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the muscarinic response. In contrast to hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation in intestinal membranes, which could also be blocked by NDGA or BHT. We conclude that cumene hydroperoxide alters the muscarinic response in the rat jejunum by the induction of lipid peroxidation, whereas the damage by hydrogen peroxide is probably induced intracellularly.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Mechanism of the reaction of ebselen with endogenous thiols: dihydrolipoate is a better cofactor than glutathione in the peroxidase activity of ebselen.

The therapeutic effect of ebselen has been linked to its peroxidase activity. In the present study, the peroxidase activity of ebselen toward H2O2 with the endogenous thiols GSH and dihydrolipoate [L(SH)2] as cofactors was determined. When GSH was used, peroxide removal was described by a ter uni ping pong mechanism with Dalziel coefficients for GSH and H2O2 of 0.165 +/- 0.011 and 0.081 +/- 0.005 mM min, respectively. When L(SH)2 was used, peroxidase activity was independent of the concentration of L(SH)2 in the concentration range studied (5 microM to 2 mM) and peroxide removal was only dependent on the concentration of H2O2 and ebselen, with the second-order rate constant being 12.3 +/- 0.8 mM-1 min-1. To elucidate the difference between GSH and L(SH)2, the molecular mechanism of the peroxidase activity of ebselen was investigated, using UV spectrophotometry, high pressure liquid chromatography, 77Se NMR, and mass spectrometry. GSH was found to react quickly with ebselen to give a selenenyl sulfide, an adduct of GSH to ebselen. Subsequently, the GSH-selenenyl sulfide is converted into the diselenide of ebselen. Finally the diselenide reacts with a peroxide and ebselen is regenerated. The formation by GSH of the diselenide from the GSH-selenenyl sulfide of ebselen is slow and linearly dependent on the concentration of free thiol; however, no net consumption of GSH was observed. Furthermore, it is likely that a selenol is an intermediate in diselenide formation. After reaction between ebselen and L(SH)2 the diselenide of ebselen was immediately detected. The fast formation of the diselenide with L(SH)2 versus the slow formation of the diselenide with GSH accounts for our observation that L(SH)2 is a better cofactor than GSH in the peroxidase activity of ebselen. Our results suggest that the interaction between ebselen and L(SH)2 might be of major importance in the mechanism by which ebselen exerts its therapeutic effect.

Azoles↗