Biomedical subjects

E Hamel

Publications and source records attributed to E Hamel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Antineoplastic agents 442. Synthesis and biological activities of dioxostatin.

A high-yield regioselective synthesis of (E)-combretastatin A-1 2b was completed using methoxymethyl (MOM) protection and a Wadsworth-Emmons reaction as key steps. In turn, (E)-stilbene 11 was converted by convenient syntheses to both (S,S)- and (R,R)-1,3-dioxolanes 5a and 6a. A Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction was employed for preparation of intermediates (S,S)-12 and (R,R)-13. The (4S,5S)-4-(2',3'-dihydroxy4'-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3",4",5"-trimethoxyphenyl)-1, 3-dioxolane 5a was found to be a highly potent inhibitor of microtubule assembly (IC50 = 0.59 microM) and was designated dioxostatin. Conversion to sodium phosphate 17 (P388 lymphocytic leukemia cell line: ED50 = 0.2 microg/ml) provided a very useful water-soluble prodrug.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2000

[Ventricular late potentials in myocardial infarction: comparison of thrombolysis, primary angioplasty, and conventional treatment].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of ventricular late potentials (VLP) during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) depending on the treatment used. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective study was carried out over the period January 1992 to December 1997, and involved 238 patients admitted for primary MI and treated less than six hours after the onset of symptoms by intravenous thrombolysis (rt-PA, n = 83) or primary angioplasty (ATCI, n = 82) and in those cases treated over six hours after the onset of symptoms by standard treatment (heparin, n = 73). Rt-PA perfusion was considered to be effective when the three following criteria were simultaneously present: i) pain sedation; ii) regression of the ST dysfunction > 50%; iii) creatine phosphokinase (CPK) peak before the 16th hour. Treatment success for angioplasty (ATCI+) was confirmed by a TIMI 3 (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) score for MI arterial perfusion, with residual stenosis of the MI artery of < 50%. Ventricular late potentials (VLP) were investigated between day six and 14, and considered to be present when two of the following criteria were met: total duration of filtered QRS, i.e., QRSd > 114 ms; signal amplitude in the 49 last ms of filtered QRS, i.e., RMS40 < 20 mV, duration of the terminal part of filtered QRS that was below 40 mV, i.e., LAS40 > 38 ms (40 Hz). VLP prevalence was as follows: 25% (rt-PA group), 345 (ATCI group), and 33% (standard treatment) respectively (P = NS). In the thrombolysis with reperfusion subgroup (n = 54/83, 65%), VLP incidence was 18.5% (n = 10/54) versus 35.5% (n = 27/76) in the subgroup ACTI+ (n = 76/82, 93%) (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of VLP appears to be significantly decreased in the the case of thrombolysis with reperfusion compared to that observed in the ATCI+ group. One of the possible explanations for this abnormally high prevalence in the angioplasty group could be a dysfunction involving reocclusion after initially successful myocardial reperfusion therapy.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1999

Synthesis and biological evaluation of dihydrobenzofuran lignans and related compounds as potential antitumor agents that inhibit tubulin polymerization.

A series of 19 related dihydrobenzofuran lignans and benzofurans was obtained by a biomimetic reaction sequence involving oxidative dimerization of p-coumaric, caffeic, or ferulic acid methyl esters, followed by derivatization reactions. All compounds were evaluated for potential anticancer activity in an in vitro human disease-oriented tumor cell line screening panel that consisted of 60 human tumor cell lines arranged in nine subpanels, representing diverse histologies. Leukemia and breast cancer cell lines were relatively more sensitive to these agents than were the other cell lines. Compounds 2c and 2d, but especially 2b (methyl (E)-3-¿2-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-2, 3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-ylprop-2-enoate), the dimerization product of caffeic acid methyl ester, containing a 3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl moiety and a hydroxyl group in position 7 of the dihydrobenzofuran ring, showed promising activity. The average GI(50) value (the molar drug concentration required for 50% growth inhibition) of 2b was 0.3 microM. Against three breast cancer cell lines, 2b had a GI(50) value of <10 nM. Methylation, reduction of the double bond of the C(3)-side chain, reduction of the methoxycarbonyl functionalities to primary alcohols, or oxidation of the dihydrobenzofuran ring to a benzofuran system resulted in a decrease or loss of cytotoxic activity. Compound 2b inhibited mitosis at micromolar concentrations in cell culture through a relatively weak interaction at the colchicine binding site of tubulin. In vitro it inhibited tubulin polymerization by 50% at a concentration of 13 +/- 1 microM. The 2R, 3R-enantiomer of 2b was twice as active as the racemic mixture, while the 2S,3S-enantiomer had minimal activity as an inhibitor of tubulin polymerization. These dihydrobenzofuran lignans (2-phenyl-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives) constitute a new group of antimitotic and potential antitumor agents that inhibit tubulin polymerization.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1999

Interactions of the sponge-derived antimitotic tripeptide hemiasterlin with tubulin: comparison with dolastatin 10 and cryptophycin 1.

The sponge-derived antimitotic tripeptide hemiasterlin was previously shown to inhibit tubulin polymerization. We have now demonstrated that hemiasterlin resembles most other antimitotic peptides in noncompetitively inhibiting the binding of vinblastine to tubulin (apparent K(i) value, 7.0 microM), competitively inhibiting the binding of dolastatin 10 to tubulin (apparent K(i) value, 2.0 microM), stabilizing the colchicine binding activity of tubulin, inhibiting nucleotide exchange on beta-tubulin, and inducing the formation of tubulin oligomers that are stable to gel filtration in the absence of free drug, even at low drug concentrations. The tubulin oligomerization reaction induced by hemiasterlin was compared to the reactions induced by dolastatin 10 and cryptophycin 1. Like dolastatin 10, hemiasterlin induced formation of a tubulin aggregate that had the morphological appearance primarily of ring-like structures with a diameter of about 40 nm, while the morphology of the cryptophycin 1 aggregate consisted primarily of smaller rings (diameter about 30 nm). However, the hemiasterlin aggregate differed from the dolastatin 10 aggregate in that its formation was not associated with turbidity development, and the morphology of the hemiasterlin aggregate (as opposed to the dolastatin 10 aggregate) did not change greatly when microtubule-associated proteins were present (tight coils and pinwheels are observed with dolastatin 10 but not with hemiasterlin or cryptophycin 1). Opacification of tubulin-dolastatin 10 mixtures was inhibited by hemiasterlin at 22 degrees C and stimulated at 0 degrees C, while cryptophycin 1 was inhibitory at both reaction temperatures.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Antitumor agents. 196. Substituted 2-thienyl-1,8-naphthyridin-4-ones: their synthesis, cytotoxicity, and inhibition of tubulin polymerization.

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates in the 2-aryl-1,8-naphthyridin-4-one series, we have synthesized a series of substituted 2-thienyl-1, 8-naphthyridin-4-ones. Most compounds showed significant cytotoxic effects (log GI(50) < -4.0; log molar drug concentration required to cause 50% growth inhibition) against a variety of human tumor cell lines in the National Cancer Institute's in vitro screen, including cells derived from solid tumors such as non-small-cell lung, colon, central nervous system, melanoma, ovarian, prostate, and breast cancers. The most active compounds (31-33,40) demonstrated strong cytotoxic effects with ED(50) values in the micromolar or submicromolar range in most of the tumor cell lines. The most cytotoxic compounds inhibited tubulin polymerization at concentrations substoichiometric to the tubulin concentration. The most potent inhibitors of polymerization (40,42,43) had effects comparable to those of the potent antimitotic natural products podophyllotoxin and combretastatin A-4 and to that of NSC 664171, a particularly potent, structurally related analogue. Only compound 40 was a potent inhibitor of the binding of radiolabeled colchicine to tubulin, and it was both the most cytotoxic agent and the most effective inhibitor of polymerization among the newly synthesized compounds.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1999

Biosynthesis of radiolabeled curacin A and its rapid and apparently irreversible binding to the colchicine site of tubulin.

Curacin A is a potent competitive inhibitor of colchicine binding to tubulin, and it inhibits the growth of tumor cells. We prepared [(14)C]curacin A biosynthetically to investigate its interaction with tubulin. Binding was rapid, even at 0 degrees C, with a minimum k(f) of 4.4 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). We were unable to demonstrate any dissociation of the [(14)C]curacin A from tubulin. Consistent with these observations, the K(a) value was so high that an accurate determination by Scatchard analysis was not possible. The [(14)C]curacin A was released from tubulin following urea treatment, indicating that covalent bond formation does not occur. We concluded that curacin A binds more tightly to tubulin than does colchicine. Besides high-affinity binding to the colchicine site, we observed significant superstoichiometric amounts of the [(14)C]curacin A bound to tubulin, and Scatchard analysis confirmed the presence of two binding sites of relatively low affinity with a K(a) of 3.2 x 10(-5) M(-1).

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1999

Origin of the serotonergic innervation to the rat dorsolateral hypothalamus: retrograde transport of cholera toxin and upregulation of tryptophan hydroxylase mRNA expression following selective nerve terminals lesion.

The regulation of serotonin synthesis was investigated in the serotonergic neurons, which provide afferents to the dorsolateral hypothalamus (DLH). The origin of the DLH projection neurons within the raphe nucleus was identified by retrograde transport of Cholera toxin (CTb) and their serotonergic nature confirmed by tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) immunocytochemistry. Disruption of serotonin synthesis steady-state was induced unilaterally by a selective and local destruction of serotonergic nerve terminals with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT), stereotaxically injected in the right DLH. The results show that most of the serotonergic dorsal raphe neurons projecting to the DLH have an ipsilateral localization within the lateral aspects of the nucleus. In rats with unilateral DLH lesion, a population of serotonergic cells within the raphe nucleus exhibited a clear increase in TPH mRNA. These cells were about five times more numerous in the ipsilateral as compared to the contralateral dorsal raphe nucleus and they had, for the most part, a lateral localization within the raphe nucleus. Sham-operated rats did not exhibit any upregulation of TPH mRNA. Together, the present results provide the first demonstration that a discreet and selective destruction of serotonergic terminals induces a circumscribed and striking increase in TPH mRNA expression in a subset of brainstem serotonergic neurons projecting to and/or passing through the DLH. On the basis of these results and previous in vivo measurements of TPH activity (e.g., 5-HT synthesis), we suggest that this upregulation in TPH mRNA expression results from the loss of pre-synaptic and/or post-synaptic regulation of serotonin synthesis. These new findings raise important issues related to the repercussions of a local disruption in serotonergic neurotransmission on brain areas remote from the site of injury.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

PubMed1999

Direct photoaffinity labeling of cysteine 211 or a nearby amino acid residue of beta-tubulin by guanosine 5'-diphosphate bound in the exchangeable site.

Tubulin with [8-14C]GDP bound in the exchangeable site was exposed to ultraviolet light, and radiolabel was cross-linked to two peptide regions of the beta-subunit. Following enrichment for peptides cross-linked to guanosine by boronate chromatography, we confirmed that the cysteine 12 residue was the major site of cross-linking. However, significant radiolabel was also incorporated into a peptide containing amino acid residues 206 through 224. Although every amino acid in this peptide except cysteine 211 was identified by sequential Edman degradation, implying that this was the amino acid residue cross-linked to guanosine, radiolabel at C-8 was usually lost during peptide processing (probably during chromatography at pH 10). Consequently, the radiolabeled amino acid could not be unambiguously identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

The coral-derived natural products eleutherobin and sarcodictyins A and B: effects on the assembly of purified tubulin with and without microtubule-associated proteins and binding at the polymer taxoid site.

We examined interactions with purified tubulin of synthetic sarcodictyins A and B and eleutherobin (coral-derived antimitotic agents) and of compound 1, an analogue of sarcodictyin A methylated at the C-3 oxygen atom (i.e., the methyl ketal analogue of sarcodictyin A and thus structurally similar to eleutherobin but lacking the C-3 sugar moiety). Eleutherobin was much more active than sarcodictyins A and B, which were somewhat more active than compound 1. Effects of eleutherobin did not differ greatly from those of paclitaxel and epothilone A. Eleutherobin and epothilone A were competitive inhibitors of the binding of radiolabeled paclitaxel to tubulin polymer (apparent Ki values of 2.1 and 2.6 microM, respectively). Tubulin assembly reactions induced by all compounds were similar to the paclitaxel-driven reactions in being enhanced by the addition of microtubule-associated proteins and/or GTP to the reaction mixture and by progressively higher reaction temperatures. Antiproliferative activity was studied in six human cancer cell lines, including two paclitaxel-resistant lines with point mutations in a beta-tubulin gene. Except for compound 1, effects on cell growth were generally in accord with effects on purified tubulin. Thus, sarcodictyins A and B had IC50 values in the 200-500 nM range; paclitaxel, <10 nM (except in the resistant lines); and eleutherobin and epothilone A, 10-40 nM. The antiproliferative activity of compound 1 was more comparable to that of eleutherobin than sarcodictyin A, despite its weak interaction with tubulin. The activities of the sarcodictyins, eleutherobin, and compound 1 in the mutant ovarian lines were similar to their activities in the parental line.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1999

Antineoplastic agents. 410. Asymmetric hydroxylation of trans-combretastatin A-4.

The South African willow tree Combretum caffrum has yielded a number of potent cancer cell growth inhibitors. The present SAR studies of the antineoplastic agent combretastatin A-4 (1c) were focused mainly on the olefinic bridge to determine the effects on cancer cell growth and, potentially, to better define the combretastatin A-4 binding site on tubulin. The geometric trans-isomer 3a of combretastatin A-4 was converted to the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-vicinal diols 4c and 4d, respectively, under Sharpless' asymmetric dihydroxylation conditions. Cancer cell line testing showed the (1S, 2S)-diol 4c to be more potent than its enantiomer 4d. Diol 4c weakly inhibited tubulin polymerization (IC50 = 22 microM, versus 1.2 microM for combretastatin A-4), while 4d was inactive (IC50 > 40 microM). Esterification of either stereoisomer at the diol and/or phenolic positions resulted in elimination of inhibitory activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

A new anti-tubulin agent containing the benzo[b]thiophene ring system.

A new type of inhibitor of tubulin polymerization was discovered based on the 3-aroyl-2-arylbenzo[b]thiophene molecular skeleton. The lead compound in this series, 2-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzoyl)-6-methoxybe nzo[b]thiophene 1, inhibited tubulin polymerization, caused an increase in the mitotic index of CA46 Burkitt lymphoma cells, and inhibited the growth of several human cancer cell lines.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

PubMed1999

Interaction of novel thiocolchicine analogs with the tubulin isoforms from bovine brain.

The antimitotic alkaloid colchicine binds to tubulin and inhibits microtubule assembly. Recently a new series of colchicine derivatives has been synthesized in which the seven-membered B-ring was shortened to a six-membered ring. In an effort to study the role of the B-ring substituents in this new series, we have studied the interaction of two compounds of this series, THC 5 and THC 18, with tubulin isoforms from bovine brain. We find that THC 18, which has a side chain with a pi-bonded SP2 conformation, binds differently to the tubulin isoforms, while THC 5 with a slightly different side chain does not. The results indicate that the conformation of the B-ring domain plays a major role in the differential interaction of a colchicine derivative with different tubulin isoforms. The results will be very important in designing potent antitumor derivatives of colchicine.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Regional cholinergic denervation of cortical microvessels and nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons in Alzheimer's disease.

In the present study, we investigated in the human cerebral cortex whether, as in the rat, basal forebrain cholinergic neurons innervate cortical microvessels and nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons and, further, we compared the status of this innervation between aged controls and neuropathologically confirmed cases of Alzheimer's disease. Using immunocytochemistry of choline acetyltransferase coupled to reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemistry, we show in young human subjects the presence of a cholinergic input to the cortical microcirculation, and of numerous perisomatic and peridendritic contacts between cholinergic nerve terminals and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase neurons. A regional cholinergic denervation of both cortical microvessels and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase neurons was found in Alzheimer's disease patients as compared to aged controls, and it paralleled the loss of total cholinergic nerve terminals in the corresponding areas of the cerebral cortex. The vascular denervation was more severe in the temporal (77%, P < 0.05) than in the frontal (48%, not significant) cortex, and the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase intracortical neurons were similarly deprived of their cholinergic input (P < 0.01) in both regions. Interestingly, a significant increase in luminal diameter (48%, P < 0.01) and area (> 160%, P < 0.01) of perfused microvessels was found in Alzheimer's tissues, possibly a consequence of both loss of neurogenic input and structural changes in blood vessel walls. The data indicate that intracortical microvessels and nitric oxide neurons in Alzheimer's disease are deprived of a cholinergic neurogenic control, a situation which is likely to result in a compromised ability to adapt cortical perfusion to neuronal activation during functional tasks related to cognition, arousal and attention. We conclude that such deficits in neurovascular regulation are likely to be an important pathogenic factor underlying cerebral blood flow dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Cytotoxic and tubulin-interactive hemiasterlins from Auletta sp. and Siphonochalina spp. sponges.

Chemical and biological investigations of extracts from the sponge genus Auletta and two collections of Siphonochalina sp. have shown these organisms to be producers of the potent hemiasterlin class of antitumor agents. In addition to the previously known hemiasterlin (1) and hemiasterlin A (2), a new analogue, hemiasterlin C (3), was isolated and identified. The structures of 1 and 2 were assigned based on comparison to literature values, and 3 was identified on the basis of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC experiments. The cytotoxic and antitubulin activities of 1-3 were evaluated. In a comparative assay for inhibition of tubulin polymerization, the hemiasterlins were more potent than dolastatin 15 and equipotent with cryptophycin 1, but were somewhat less potent than dolastatin 10.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

The biology of serotonin receptors: focus on migraine pathophysiology and treatment.

Serotonin receptors are highly heterogeneous and they have been regrouped within seven different families (5-HT1-5-HT7). With the exception of the 5-HT3 which is a ligand-gated ion channel, all others are G-protein coupled receptors with each family sharing structural, pharmacological and transductional characteristics. 5-HT receptors have been implicated in the regulation of several psychiatric and neurological disorders related to serotonergic neurotransmission, and specific receptor subtypes have recently been associated with either the pathogenesis or the treatment of migraine headache. In this respect, activation of vascular 5-HT2B and/or 5-HT7 receptors, possibly as a consequence of the sudden rise in 5-HT levels reported at the onset of a migraine attack, would hypothetically result in dilation of cerebral blood vessels and concomitant activation of sensory trigeminovascular afferents, hence initiating the manifestation of head pain. At this stage in the migraine process, activation of specific subtypes of 5-HT1 receptors has proven clinically effective in relieving migraine pain. Neural 5-HT1D and/or 5-HT1F receptors localized pre-junctionally on trigeminovascular afferents appear to mediate the triptan-induced inhibition of the neurogenic inflammatory response, with possible additional sites of action for brain penetrant 5-HT1 receptor agonists in inhibiting the transmission of pain centrally. In contrast, activation of vascular 5-HT1B receptors would constrict meningeal vessels hence recovering their pre-migraine diameter. The recent availability of subtype selective 5-HT1D and 5-HT1F receptor agonists should allow a further test of the neural/vascular hypothesis and could possibly lead to antimigraine drugs with a safer cardiovascular profile.

Brain↗

PubMed1999

Expression of neuropeptide Y receptors mRNA and protein in human brain vessels and cerebromicrovascular cells in culture.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been suggested as an important regulator of CBF. However, except for the presence of Y1 receptors in large cerebral arteries, little is known about its possible sites of action on brain vessels. In this study, we sought to identify the NPY receptors present in the human cerebrovascular bed. Specific Y1 receptor binding sites, localized on the smooth muscle of human pial vessels and potently competed by NPY, polypeptide YY (PYY), and the selective Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226, were identified by quantitative radioautography of the Y1 radioligand [125I]-[Leu31, Pro34]-PYY. In contrast, no specific binding of the Y2-([125I]-PYY3-36) and Y4/Y5-(125I-human pancreatic polypeptide [hPP]) radioligands could be detected. By in situ hybridization, expression of Y1 receptor mRNA was restricted to the smooth muscle layer of pial vessels, whereas no specific signals were detected for either Y2, Y4, or Y5 receptors. Similarly, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), mRNA for Y1 but not Y2, Y4, or Y5 receptors was consistently detected in isolated human pial vessels, intracortical microvessels, and capillaries. In human brain microvascular cells in culture, PCR products for the Y1 receptors were exclusively found in the smooth muscle cells. In cultures of human brain astrocytes, a cell type that associates intimately with brain microvessels, PCR products for Y1, Y2, and Y4 but not Y5 receptors were identified. Finally, NPY significantly inhibited the forskolin-induced cAMP production in smooth muscle but not in endothelial cell cultures. We conclude that smooth muscle Y1 receptors are the primary if not exclusive NPY receptors associated with human brain extraparenchymal and intraparenchymal blood vessels, where they most likely mediate cerebral vasoconstriction.

Astrocytes↗

PubMed1999

Functional acetylcholine muscarinic receptor subtypes in human brain microcirculation: identification and cellular localization.

Acetylcholine is an important regulator of local cerebral blood flow. There is, however, limited information available on the possible sites of action of this neurotransmitter on brain intraparenchymal microvessels. In this study, a combination of molecular and functional approaches was used to identify which of the five muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) are present in human brain microvessels and their intimately associated astroglial cells. Microvessel and capillary fractions isolated from human cerebral cortex were found by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to express m2, m3, and, occasionally, m1 and m5 receptor subtypes. To localize these receptors to a specific cellular compartment of the vessel wall, cultures of human brain microvascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells were used, together with cultured human brain astrocytes. Endothelial cells invariably expressed m2 and m5 receptors, and occasionally the m1 receptor; smooth muscle cells exhibited messages for all except the m4 mAChR subtypes, whereas messages for all five muscarinic receptors were identified in astrocytes. In all three cell types studied, acetylcholine induced a pirenzepine-sensitive increase (62% to 176%, P<0.05 to 0.01) in inositol trisphosphate, suggesting functional coupling of m1, m3, or m5 mAChR to a phospholipase C signaling cascade. Similarly, coupling of m2 or m4 mAChR to adenylate cyclase inhibition in endothelial cells and astrocytes, but not in smooth muscle cells, was demonstrated by the ability of carbachol to significantly reduce (44% to 50%, P<0.05 to 0.01) the forskolin-stimulated increase in cAMP levels. This effect was reversed by the mAChR antagonist AFDX 384. The results indicate that microvessels are able to respond to neurally released acetylcholine and that mAChR, distributed in different vascular and astroglial compartments, could regulate cortical perfusion and, possibly, blood-brain barrier permeability, functions that could become jeopardized in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Astrocytes↗

PubMed1999

Multiple microvascular and astroglial 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtypes in human brain: molecular and pharmacologic characterization.

Physiologic and anatomic evidence suggest that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons regulate local cerebral blood flow and blood-brain barrier permeability. To evaluate the possibility that some of these effects occur directly on the blood vessels, molecular and/or pharmacologic approaches were used to assess the presence of 5-HT receptors in human brain microvascular fractions, endothelial and smooth muscle cell cultures, as well as in astroglial cells which intimately associate with intraparenchymal blood vessels. Isolated microvessels and capillaries consistently expressed messages for the h5-HT1B, h5-HT1D, 5-HT1F, 5-HT2A but not 5-HT7 receptors. When their distribution within the vessel wall was studied in more detail, it was found that capillary endothelial cells exhibited mRNA for the h5-HT1D and for the 5-HT7 receptors whereas microvascular smooth muscle cells, in addition to h5-HT1D and 5-HT7, also showed polymerase chain reaction products for h5-HT1B receptors. Expression of 5-HT1F and 5-HT2A receptor mRNAs was never detected in any of the microvascular cell cultures. In contrast, messages for all 5-HT receptors tested were detected in human brain astrocytes with a predominance of the 5-HT2A and 5-HT7 subtypes. In all cultures, sumatriptan inhibited (35-58%, P < .05) the forskolin-stimulated production of cyclic AMP, an effect blocked by the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonists GR127935 and GR55562. In contrast, 5-carboxamidotryptamine induced strong increases (> or = 400%, P < .005) in basal cyclic AMP levels that were abolished by mesulergine, a nonselective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist. Only astroglial cells showed a ketanserin-sensitive increase (177%, P < .05) in IP3 formation when exposed to 5-HT. These results show that specific populations of functional 5-HT receptors are differentially distributed within the various cellular compartments of the human cortical microvascular bed, and that human brain astroglial cells are endowed with multiple 5-HT receptors. These findings emphasize the complex interactions between brain serotonergic pathways and non-neuronal cells within the CNS and, further, they raise the possibility that some of these receptors may be activated by antimigraine compounds such as brain penetrant triptan derivatives.

Astrocytes↗