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Biomedical subjects

L Parente

Publications and source records attributed to L Parente.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of interleukin 1 in experimental nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastropathy.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) has been shown to reduce the severity of experimental gastroduodenal ulceration, but the mechanism of action is unclear. The present study examined the possibility that the mechanism underlying the protective effects of IL-1 in experimental nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastropathy is related to effects on gastric acid secretion, on prostaglandin synthesis, and/or on neutrophil function. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta dose-dependently (1-10 micrograms/kg) reduced the severity of gastric damage induced by indomethacin, whereas tumor necrosis factor alpha (1-10 micrograms/kg) had no effect. These effects of IL-1 were not completely attributable to a reduction in the volume or acidity of gastric secretion during the 1-hour pretreatment period. Whereas IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta significantly inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, the dose-response relationship and time course of actions suggested that effects on acid secretion did not fully account for the ability of these agents to reduce indomethacin-induced gastric injury. The maximally effective dose of IL-1 beta (10 micrograms/kg) in terms of reduction of indomethacin-induced gastric injury did not significantly affect gastric prostaglandin synthesis. Neutrophil function was assessed using two in vivo assays. IL-1 beta inhibited migration of neutrophils in response to intradermal injections of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and dose-dependently (0.1-10 micrograms/kg) inhibited LTB4-induced neutropenia. These effects could be mimicked by dexamethasone (1 mg/kg SC), which inhibited the neutropenic response to LTB4 and significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced the severity of indomethacin-induced gastric damage. Both IL-1 beta and dexamethasone could significantly reduce the extent of histologically detectable leukocyte margination within the gastric mucosal microcirculation after indomethacin administration. The results of this study suggest that effects of IL-1 on gastric acid secretion or prostaglandin synthesis do not fully account for its ability to reduce the severity of experimental NSAID-induced gastropathy, whereas inhibitory effects of IL-1 on neutrophil function may contribute significantly to its protective actions.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Anti-inflammatory effect of tuftsin and its retro-inverso analogue in rat adjuvant arthritis.

Tuftsin, an immunostimulating tetrapeptide derived from immunoglobulin heavy chain, and its retro-inverso analogue have been tested in rat adjuvant arthritis. The secondary lesion of rats injected with Freund's adjuvant was significantly inhibited by both the natural and retro-inverso tuftsin administered orally. The retro-inverso analogue was at least tenfold more potent than the parent molecule, suggesting an increased stability to degradation, because of its molecular modification. The anti-inflammatory effect of tuftsin may be due to its ability to modulate macrophage function.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Reduction of aspirin-induced gastric damage in rats by interleukin-1 beta: possible involvement of endogenous corticosteroids.

Administration of interleukin-1 (IL-1; 0.01-3 microgram/kg) by either i.p. or intragastric routes to rats reduced aspirin-induced gastric damage. These effects of IL-1 were not subject to desensitization by its pretreatment and were obtained without modification of the acute anti-inflammatory efficacy of aspirin. Gastroprotection could be effected without major modification of gastric tissue to form prostaglandins I2 or E2. A dose-related decrease of the acidic gastric fluid secretion induced by aspirin was observed with i.p. administered IL-1 was found to reduce gastric fluid volume only at the highest dose tested, although this was not associated with increased gastroprotection. By using adrenalectomized rats the gastric damage induced by aspirin was increased approximately 3-fold. IL-1 treatment, albeit with higher dosage, again reduced lesion formation. Treatment of adrenalectomized rats with dexamethasone and IL-1 synergistically reduced the gastric damage caused by aspirin. In normal rats these treatments caused only an additive reduction of lesion formation although the presence of endogenous glucocorticoid in these animals may mask any effects of the exogenously administered dexamethasone. The glucocorticoid-receptor antagonist, RU 38486, also potentiated aspirin-induced gastric damage and reduced the gastroprotective efficacy of IL-1 without modifying its effect on gastric fluid volume. The data indicate that gastroprotective actions of IL-1 are unlikely to be related upon effects on prostaglandin synthesis or gastric secretion. Endogenous glucocorticoids appear to have a modulatory role in controlling the severity of gastric damage evoked by aspirin and may potentiate the protective actions of IL-1.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1991

Dexamethasone induces the expression of the mRNA of lipocortin 1 and 2 and the release of lipocortin 1 and 5 in differentiated, but not undifferentiated U-937 cells.

The effect of dexamethasone on mRNA and protein synthesis of lipocortins (LCT) 1, 2 and 5 has been investigated in U-937 cells. A constitutive expression of both mRNAs and proteins was detected in undifferentiated U-937 cells. This constitutive level was increased time- and dose-dependently by incubation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). In U-937 cells differentiated by 24 h incubation with 6 ng/ml PMA, dexamethasone (DEX) (1 microM for 16 h) caused an increased synthesis of the mRNA level of LCT-1 and 2, but not of LCT-5, over the level induced by PMA. DEX had no effect in undifferentiated cells. Moreover, DEX stimulated the extracellular release of LCT-1 and 5, but not of LCT-2, and inhibited the release of PGE2 and TXB2 only in the differentiated U-937 cells. These results suggest that the responsiveness of these cells to glucocorticoids is dependent on the phase of cell differentiation. The selective release of lipocortins by differentiated U-937 cells may explain, at least in part, the inhibition by DEX of the prostanoid release.

Annexins↗
PubMed1991

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone reduces interleukin-1 beta effects on rat stomach preparations possibly through interference with a type I receptor.

Contractions elicited by CaCl2 on isolated rat stomach strip preparations have been reported to be potentiated by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). We have investigated whether this effect can be reduced by the putative IL-1 beta antagonist, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha MSH). Additionally, the effects of alpha MSH on the specific binding of IL-1 beta to B- and T-cells have been investigated to further clarify its inhibitory activities. Both alpha MSH and its carboxyl terminal tripeptide concentration dependently reduced the potentiation of CaCl2-induced contractions caused by IL-1 beta but not those caused by leukotriene D4, the parent molecule being approximately 250 times more active. Additionally, both peptides potently and selectively reduced 125I-IL-1 beta binding to the T-cell sub-clone EL4-6.1 but not to the B-cell sub-clone 1H7. The results indicate that IL-1 beta effects on rat stomach may be mediated through a type-I (80 kDa) IL-1 beta receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A new human growth hormone production process using a recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain.

We constructed a series of hybrid plasmids which directed the synthesis of different human growth hormone (hGH) precursor sequences in Bacillus subtilis. In addition to the 191 amino acids of the hormone, the precursors had in common an amino-terminal extension characterized by the presence of a methionine at position 1 and of the tetrapeptide Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg preceding the first residue (Phe) of hGH. The sequence between the methionine and the tetrapeptide was specific for each precursor and, because of the presence of charged residues, conferred particular properties to the molecules. Long homopolymeric tail-containing precursors such as MRRRRRRIILM-IEGR appeared insoluble whereas shorter sequences of the type MRR-IEGR and MEELM-IEGR augmented the solubility of the precursors with respect to Met-hGH. The soluble precursors could be easily purified from the bulk proteins taking advantage of the charged residues present on the N-terminal tail. After purification, the natural hGH was obtained by treating the precursors with the protease Factor Xa which cleaves after the arginine residue of the tetrapeptide IEGR. A protocol for the production and purification of authentic hGH from a strain expressing one of these soluble precursors is reported.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Immunostimulation by a partially modified retro-inverso-tuftsin analogue containing Thr1 psi[NHCO](R,S)Lys2 modification.

The tuftsin retro-inverso analogue H-Thr psi[NHCO](R,S)Lys-Pro-Arg-OH was synthesized through a novel procedure for the high-yield incorporation of isolated retro-inverso bonds into peptide chains and the use of the new Meldrum's acid derivative (CH3)2C(OCO)2CH(CH2)4NHCOCF3 followed by its efficient coupling in solution to trimethylsilylated H-D-Thr(t-Bu)NH2. Closely related peptide impurities were eliminated both from the crude final peptide and the fully protected tetrapeptide amide precursor via ion-exchange and reversed-phase displacement chromatography, respectively. The tuftsin retro-inverso analogue proved to be completely resistant to enzymatic degradation in vitro, either against isolated aminopeptidases or human plasma proteolytic enzymes. When administered either orally or intravenously, it was significantly more active than normal tuftsin in increasing the number of specific antibody secreting cells in spleen of mice immunized with sheep erythrocytes. Furthermore, the analogue exerted an enhanced stimulatory effect on the cytotoxic activity of splenocytes against YAC-1 tumor cells. Finally, retro-inverso-tuftsin was about 10-fold more potent than the native peptide in reducing rat adjuvant arthritis. The resistance of the retro-inverso analogue to peptidases might explain the increased in vivo activities and allows its further immunopharmacological characterization.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1991

A novel anti-inflammatory peptide from human lipocortin 5.

1. A novel anti-inflammatory peptide (residues 204-212) of human recombinant lipocortin 5 (hrLC5) found on the high similarity region with uteroglobin is described. 2. Peptide 204-212 dose-dependently inhibited the contractions of rat isolated stomach strips elicited by porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Contractions caused by arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 5-hydroxytryptamine were not affected. No direct enzyme inhibition was observed in a radiochemical assay. 3. PGE2 release by both human fibroblasts and rat macrophages was reduced by peptide 204-212 in a dose-dependent manner. 4. The development of carrageenin-induced oedema in rats was significantly inhibited by the local administration of peptide 204-212. 5. The pattern and potency of the biological effects of peptide 204-212 are similar to those of antiflammin 2, a lipocortin 1-derived peptide. 6. It is suggested that peptide 204-212 may represent the active site responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of lipocortin 5.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Secretagogue-specific effects of interleukin-1 on gastric acid secretion.

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has recently been shown to reduce the severity of experimental gastroduodenal damage and to inhibit acid secretion in the pylorus-ligated rat. In the present study, the effects of IL-1 beta on pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion were compared with those of two other cytokines, namely IL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. Also, the effects of IL-1 beta on gastric acid secretion stimulated by bethanechol or histamine were assessed. Anesthetized rats were pretreated intravenously with one of the cytokines, at doses in the 0.1-5 micrograms/kg range, 30 min before starting an intravenous infusion of pentagastrin. TNF alpha failed to significantly affect acid secretion, whereas IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta exhibited significant inhibitory effects. For example, at a dose of 5 micrograms/kg, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta reduced acid secretion by 33 and 80%, respectively. The inhibitory effects of IL-1 beta on acid secretion could be completely inhibited by preincubation with an antibody directed against IL-1 beta but not by pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg sc) or by bilateral vagotomy. If acid secretion was stimulated by intravenous infusions of histamine or bethanechol, neither IL-1 beta nor TNF alpha produced significant inhibitory effects. Inhibition of acid secretion by IL-1 was also observed when the IL-1 was administered subsequent to stimulation by pentagastrin administration. These results demonstrate that IL-1 beta is an extremely potent inhibitor of acid secretion stimulated by pentagastrin but not that stimulated by histamine or bethanechol, through a mechanism that is at least in part independent of the vagus nerve and of prostaglandin synthesis. IL-1 alpha is less potent as an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, whereas TNF appears to be inactive. Because pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion could be completely inhibited by a histamine H2-receptor antagonist (cimetidine) and because IL-1 had no effect on histamine-stimulated acid secretion, it is possible that IL-1 exerts its antisecretory actions by inhibiting pentagastrin-stimulated histamine release.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Persistent effects of interleukin-1 on smooth muscle preparations from adrenalectomized rats: implications for increased phospholipase-A2 activity via stimulation of 5-lipoxygenase.

Human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (hrIL-1 beta) potentiated CaCl2-induced contractions of isolated stomach strip preparations from adrenalectomized rats (ADXSS). Associated with this effect were increased prostaglandin E2 and peptidyl leukotriene (LT) synthesis. Unlike preparations from normal rat stomach strips or sham-operated animals, tissue responses and eicosanoid production of ADXSS failed to return to pre-hrIL-1 beta control levels after washout of the interleukin, these effects being abrogated by the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Additionally, the LTD4 antagonist FPL55712 also prevented the increase in contraction and prostaglandin E2 synthesis caused by hrIL-1 beta without decreasing peptidyl LT synthesis. In separate experiments, hrIL-1 beta failed to increase the recovery of arachidonic acid-induced contractions after aspirin pretreatment in both ADXSS and rat stomach strips. The data indicate that the effects caused by hrIL-1 beta on ADXSS are possibly the result of an exacerbated phospholipase A2 activity particularly inasmuch as increases in cellular cyclooxygenase synthesis are unlikely in this experimental system. It appears likely that a peptidyl LT is involved in this process. Elevation of phospholipase A2 activity by interleukin-1 like drugs may be an important factor limiting the use of these agents as adjuvants particularly in patients with low blood glucocorticoid levels.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1991

Evidence that interleukin-1 and lipoxygenase metabolites mediate the lethal effect of complete Freund's adjuvant in adrenalectomized rats.

Injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the right hind paw of adrenalectomized (ADX) rats caused a lethal effect, maximal after 3 days. Treatment of animals with polyclonal sera raised against either murine recombinant (mr) IL-1 alpha or mrIL-1 beta gave significant protection, suggesting the involvement of this cytokine in the observed lethality. Death was also caused by the intravenous injection of human recombinant (hr) IL-1 beta in ADX rats. No lethality was induced by either CFA or hrIL-1 beta in sham-operated (SHO) rats. The administration of dexamethasone or the dural cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor BW 755c significantly protected against the lethality induced by both CFA and hrIL-1 beta. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin and acetylsalicyclic acid, were ineffective. WEB 2086, a PAF-acether receptor antagonist, gave partial but not significant protection. These results suggest that activation of arachidonic acid metabolism is involved in the observed lethality, with lipoxygenase metabolites as possible final effectors. These experimental models of lethalities may be useful for the in vivo evaluation of drugs interfering with the synthesis and/or biological effects of IL-1.

4,5-Dihydro-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyraz↗
PubMed1990

Induction of gene expression by IL-1 in NIH 3T3 cells. Possible requirement of protein kinase C activity and independence from arachidonic acid metabolism.

NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were transfected with the chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase (CAT) gene under the control of the SV40 early promoter, which can be stimulated by IL-1. CAT activity in cell lysates and PGE2 release in the supernatants were measured in control and stimulated cell cultures in parallel. Human IL-1 beta (180 pM) and human rTNF-alpha (3 nM) significantly stimulated both CAT activity and PGE2 release. The combined incubation of the two cytokines resulted in a synergistic effect on PGE2 release. The addition of AA (30 microM) greatly stimulated PGE2 release without affecting CAT activity. Similarly, drugs interfering with AA metabolism were without effect on CAT activity although profoundly reducing PGE2 release. Forskolin (0.1 microM) did not modify either parameter. The glucocorticoid fluocinolone (20 nM) was able to decrease both parameters. Protein kinase inhibitors H7 (5-50 microM) and sphingosine (50 microM) inhibited only IL-1-induced CAT activity, whereas H8 (5-50 microM) and HA1004 (50 microM) were ineffective on both parameters. PMA (0.5 microM) and R59 022, a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor (10 microM), did not modify either control or IL-1-induced CAT activity. IL-1-stimulated PGE2 release was potentiated by PMA, although this effect was not inhibited by H7. The data suggest that: 1) in NIH 3T3 cells the activation of AA metabolism by IL-1 is not involved in IL-1-induced gene expression; 2) protein kinase C activity is required but not sufficient for IL-1-induced gene expression; and 3) PMA may stimulate AA metabolism by a mechanism in part independent of protein kinase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Reduction of the severity of experimental gastric and duodenal ulceration by interleukin-1 beta.

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been reported to stimulate prostaglandin synthesis by the rat stomach in vitro and to inhibit gastric acid secretion in vivo. We have therefore tested the hypothesis that IL-1 beta might have protective actions in experimental models of gastroduodenal ulceration. IL-1 beta, given i.p., dose and time dependently reduced the severity of ethanol-induced gastric damage. A pretreatment time of 90 min was found to produce the greatest reduction of damage, while doses of 0.1 micrograms/kg or greater were found to produce significant effects. The protective actions of IL-1 beta were abolished by prior boiling or by pretreatment of the animals with indomethacin, and were not shared by the nonapeptide fragment 163-171. IL-1 beta also reduced the severity of gastric damage induced by indomethacin and the duodenal ulceration induced by cysteamine. The results indicate that IL-1 beta has protective actions in three separate experimental models of gastroduodenal ulceration. The mechanism of action of IL-1 beta is not entirely clear, but contributions of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis and inhibition of gastric acid secretion cannot be excluded.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Investigation of rat mast cell degranulation using flow cytometry.

Mast cells degranulation has been assessed by flow cytometry (FACS) taking advantage of the changes in the light scattering properties of mast cells stimulated by secretagogues. In turn, these changes are based on the modification of size, shape, and granule content of the cells before and after stimulation. With FACS, it is possible to work with almost pure mast cell populations (greater than 99%). Moreover, responses to compound 48/80 are carried out in real time and on the same cell sample that acts as internal control. This technique is very sensitive as shown by the ED50 of compound 48/80 (0.051 micrograms/mL) compared to its ED50 on histamine release (0.131 micrograms/mL). The well-known inhibitory effect of disodium cromoglycate against compound 48/80 was clearly observed using FACS. Furthermore, FACS allowed to distinguish between specific degranulating effects and cytotoxicity. Among the secretagogues used, only the degranulation induced by phospholipase A2 was inhibited by in vivo treatment with dexamethasone. It is suggested that the inhibitory effect is due to induction of phospholipase A2-inhibitory proteins (lipocortins).

Animals↗