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Biomedical subjects

L Levine

Publications and source records attributed to L Levine.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

The effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin production by rheumatoid synovial tissue.

The effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin production by rheumatoid synovial tissue has been investigated. Synovial explants were maintained in tissue culture for periods up to six days and PGE2 concentrations in culture were determined by radioimmunoassay. The more potent nonsteroidal inhibitors of PGE2 production and their IC50 (micrometer) values were indomethacin 0.005, flufenamic acid 0.2, flurbiprofen 0.6, ibuprofen 2.0 , naproxen 6.0, phenylbutazone 10.0, and aspirin 20.0. Drugs with weak or insignificant effects were hydroxychloroquin, acetaminophen, azathioprine, chloroquin, penicillamine, gold Na thiomalate, and Na salicylate. Glucocorticoids were potent inhibitors; dexamethasone 0.003, prednisolone 0.01, hydrocortisone 0.03; while mineralocorticoids deoxycorticosterone and aldosterone were inactive at 1.0 micrometer. There is a reasonably good correlation between the IC50 concentrations of the nonsteroidal inhibitors and their peak free plasma concentration achieved during therapy in man. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis may contribute to the effects of many but not all anti-inflammatory drugs.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Induction of fatty acid cyclooxygenase activity in canine kidney cells (MDCK) by benzo(a)pyrene.

Canine kidney cells (MDCK) in which [3H]arachidonic acid was esterified in the cellular lipids released increased levels of radioactive prostaglandins and arachidonic acid into the medium when cultured in the presence of benzo(a)pyrene. When MDCK cells were cultured in the presence of benzo(alpha)pyrene and 7,8-benzoflavone, this increased release was not observed. MDCK cells incubated with benzo(a)pyrene also converted exogenous arachidonic acid into prostaglandins more effectively than cells grown in its absence. 7,8-Benzoflavone inhibited this benzo(a)pyrene effect. Microsomes, prepared from benzo(alpha)pyrene-treated MDCK cells synthesized prostaglandin F2alpha from arachidonic acid more effectively than nontreated cells.

Arachidonic Acids↗

Prostaglandin production by methylcholanthrene-transformed mouse BALB/3T3. Requirement for protein synthesis.

Stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis in transformed mouse fibroblasts by serum, thrombin, and bradykinin was blocked by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. These RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors did not affect prostaglandin synthetase in vitro or in vivo; nor did they affect the acylation of arachidonic acid into phospholipids. Serum-stimulated release of arachidonic acid and prostaglandins from [3H]arachidonic acid-labeled cells also was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. RNA and protein synthesis appear to be required for expression of phospholipase activity; a prerequisite for prostaglandin synthesis by these cells.

Animals↗

Plasma adriamycin and daunorubicin levels by fluorescence and radioimmunoassay.

In 38 adriamycin experiments and 4 daunorubicin experiments, radioimmunoassay readily and reproducibly detects and estimates these drugs and immunologically similar metabolites in patients' plasma and urine to at least 120 hr after dosing without interference by concurrent medication. The plasma drug decay follows first-order kinetics in a triphasic pattern. Radioimmunoassay and fluorescence assay show similar decay up to 4 hr but diverge at that point with the fluorescence assay yielding higher values. Pharmocokinetic differences are amplified in patients with liver dysfunction and may be caused by fluorescent drug metabolites not sensitive to radioimmunoassay or nonspecific fluorescent materials. The radioimmunoassay offers the capability to measure adriamycin and daunorubicin in clinical settings in which fluorescence assay is not available.

Daunorubicin↗

Elevated prostaglandins synthetase activity in methylcholanthrene-transformed mouse BALB/3T3.

Cell lines transformed from 3T3 spontaneously, by radiation, or by treatment with chemical carcinogens, polyoma and SV40 virus produce up to 5 times more prostaglandins than their untransformed parent line. Several aspects of prostaglandin biosynthesis by MC5-5 and 3T3 were compared. When stimulated by serum, bradykinin, or thrombin, MC5-5 cells labeled with radioactive arachidonic acid in their cellular lipids, these higher levels were shown not to be due to increased availability of the prostaglandin precursor, arachidonic acid. Prostaglandin synthetase activity in microsomal fractions prepared from MC5-5 was 6 times higher than that of microsomes of untransformed cells. The increased prostaglandin levels produced by transformed cells therefore appear to be the result of elevated prostaglandin synthetase activity.

Animals↗

Multiple molecular forms of prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase and 9-ketoreductase in chicken kidney.

Prostaglandin-15-hydroxydehydrogenase and prostaglandin-9-keto-reductase were purified from chicken kidney. Both enzymes exist in multiple forms as determined by isoelectric focusing. The dehydrogenases catalyze the transformation of the functional group at C-15 but not the functional group at C-9. The preferred cofactors in these reactions are NAD+ or NADH. The 9-ketoreductases catalyze the reversible transformation of the functional group at C-9 and also the oxidation or reduction of the C-15 functional group. The preferred cofactors are NADP+ or NADPH. Bradykinin does not affect the activities of any of the three prostaglandin 9-ketoreductases. Flavin mononucleotide and the flavonoid, quercetin, as well as indomethacin, ethacrynic acid, and furosemide, inhibit all three 9-ketoreductases. An inhibitor of 9-ketoreductase isolated from chicken breast muscle also inhibits the three separable reductases, but the pattern of inhibition of the reductase that focuses at pH 5.7 differs from that of the reductases focusing at pH 7.8 and 8.2.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Prostaglandin production by methylcholanthrene-transformed mouse BALB/3T3: effect of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors.

Oligomycin, antimycin, and 2,4-dinitrophenol, compounds that are known to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation by different mechanisms, inhibit the production of prostaglandins by serum-stimulated MC5-5 cells. The prostaglandin production that is stimulated by thrombin and bradykinin is inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol. Prostaglandin synthesis by MC5-5 cells from exogeneously-supplied arachidonic acid, however, is not affected by 2,4-dinitrophenol. Antimycin and 2,4-dinitrophenol also inhibit the serum-stimulated release of arachidonic acid from the cellular lipids, suggesting that it is the expression of phospholipase activity, a prerequisite for synthesis of prostaglandins by MC5-5 cells, that is dependent on oxidative phosphorylation.

Animals↗

Analogues of anthracene, phenanthrene, and benzoflavone inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis by cells in culture.

Prostaglandin production by methylcholanthrene-transformed 3T3 mouse fibroblasts (MC5-5), human normal fibroblasts (D550), and canine kidney (MDCK) cells was inhibited by several analogues of anthracene, phenanthrene, and benzoflavone. Among the most effective inhibitors of MC5-5's prostaglandin production were anthracene (ID50=1.7 micrometer), 9,10-diaminophenanthrene (ID50=0.48 micrometer), and 7,8-benzoflavone (ID50=0.55 micrometer). Under identical conditions, the ID50's for indomethacin and aspirin were 0.049 and 8.9 micrometer respectively. Production of radioactive prostaglandins by MC5-5 cells from tritiated phospholipids was blocked by 7,8-benzoflavone, but not the release of radioactive arachidonic acid.

Animals↗

Plasma concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin E2 in rabbits bearing the VX2 carcinoma: effects of hydrocortisone and indomethacin.

In rabbits bearing the prostaglandin-producing VX2 carcinoma, the plasma concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 (PGE2-M) was elevated within one week after tumor implantation and preceded the development of hypercalcemia. Both the rate of rise and magnitude of the increase were greater for the metabolite than for PGE2; at the time of peak hyercalcemia (about 4 to 5 weeks after tumor implantation), the increase over basal in plasma PGE2-M was about 75 fold whereas it was previously shown that the increase in PGE2 was less than 2 fold. Indomethacin, which inhibits PGE2 synthesis in VX2 cells in culture, lowered in parallel plasma calcaium and PGE2-M in tumor-bearing rabbits. Administration of hydrocortisone to rabbits bearing the VX2 tumor prevented the development of hypercalcemia when given at the time of tumor implantation and reversed the elevated plasma calcium in previously untreated animals; the steroid hormone also lowered plasma concentrations of PGE2-M. These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that the hypercalcemic syndrome in VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits is due to the secretion of PGE2 by the tumor.

Animals↗

Relationships, among the steroids, of anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of prostaglandin production and arachidonic acid release by transformed mouse fibroblasts.

Anti-inflammatory steroids inhibit the serum-stimulated prostaglandin synthesis and release of [3H]arachidonic acid by methylcholanthrene-transformed mouse fibroblast, MC5-5. The half-maximal concentration for inhibition of both effects parallels the relative anti-inflammatory potencies of these steroids. The fatty acid cyclooxygenase activities of microsomal fractions isolated from cells that had been pretreated with dexamethasone were similar to the activities of microsomal fractions isolated from untreated cells. Intracellular as well as extracellular levels of prostaglandins in dexamethasone inhibited cells were decreased. The anti-inflammatory steroids seem to be blocking deacylation of the phospholipids or transport of the arachidonic acid, after deacylation to the cyclooxygenase.

Animals↗