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Biomedical subjects

P Ghezzi

Publications and source records attributed to P Ghezzi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Differential effect of glucocorticoids on tumour necrosis factor production in mice: up-regulation by early pretreatment with dexamethasone.

Glucocorticoids (GC) are well known inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production. We investigated the role of endogenous GC in the regulation of TNF production in mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using a pretreatment with dexamethasone (DEX) to down-regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). Short-term DEX pretreatment (up to 12 h before LPS) inhibited TNF production, but earlier (24-48 h) pretreatments potentiated it. This up-regulating effect was not observed in adrenalectomized mice or when GC synthesis was inhibited with cyanoketone (CK). This effect could not be explained only by the suppression of LPS-induced corticosterone (CS) levels induced by DEX, since a 48-h pretreatment potentiated TNF production without affecting LPS-induced CS levels. On the other hand, mice chronically pretreated with DEX were still responsive to its inhibitory effect on TNF production, thus ruling out the possibility of a decreased responsiveness to GC.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1994

Depression of liver metabolism and induction of cytokine release by diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccines: role of Bordetella pertussis cells in toxicity.

A 24-h pretreatment of mice with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and whole-cell pertussis vaccines depressed liver cytochrome P-450 and therefore prolonged hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice. The depression of liver drug metabolism by a cellular vaccine containing a mutated pertussis toxin was less marked than that induced by the wild-type vaccines, indicating that the mutated vaccine might have lower toxicity in this regard. The wild-type vaccines decreased microsomal P-450 levels by 50%, while the mutated whole-cell vaccine had a less marked effect (a decrease of 30%), paralleling the results obtained in sleeping time experiments. Furthermore, an acellular mutated vaccine did not affect liver drug metabolism, indicating a role of the whole bacterial cell in this side effect. All the cellular vaccines studied induced high serum interleukin-6 levels; on the other hand, the acellular mutated vaccine induced very low interleukin-6 levels, indicating that the whole bacterial cell is also important for interleukin-6 induction. All vaccines studied were very poor tumor necrosis factor inducers.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Chlorpromazine specifically inhibits peripheral and brain TNF production, and up-regulates IL-10 production, in mice.

We have previously shown that chlorpromazine (CPZ) inhibits tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production and protects against endotoxic shock in mice. In this paper we investigated the effect of pretreatment with CPZ, 4 mg/kg i.p. 30 min before, compared with dexamethasone (DEX; 3 mg/kg) on the induction of other endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS)-induced cytokines in the serum of mice, i.e. interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-6 and IL-10, and TNF. We also studied the effect of CPZ on serum and spleen-associated TNF. Both DEX and CPZ inhibited TNF production, whereas induction of IL-1 and IL-6 was inhibited by DEX but not by CPZ. DEX did not affect IL-10, while CPZ potentiated its induction. CPZ also inhibited spleen-associated TNF induction in LPS-treated mice, suggesting an effect on the synthesis of TNF. CPZ inhibited TNF induction by Gram-positive bacteria (heat-killed Staphylococcus epidermidis) and by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. Intraperitoneal administration of CPZ also inhibited the induction of brain-associated TNF induced by intra-cerebroventricular injection of LPS. Therefore, CPZ is a more specific inhibitor of TNF production than DEX; in particular, CPZ increased the induction of IL-10, which is a 'protective' cytokine known to inhibit LPS toxicity and TNF production. CPZ inhibited TNF production in vivo, irrespective of the TNF stimulus used to induce TNF. Finally, CPZ did not induce the 'rebound' effect of DEX that, when given 24 hr before LPS, potentiates TNF production, but it did inhibit TNF production after 24 hr.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Role of xanthine oxidase and reactive oxygen intermediates in LPS- and TNF-induced pulmonary edema.

We studied the role of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary edema. LPS treatment (600 micrograms/mouse, IP) was associated with a marked induction of the superoxide-generating enzyme xanthine oxidase (XO) in serum and lung. Pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC)--1 gm/kg orally, 45 minutes before LPS--or with the XO inhibitor allopurinol (AP)--50 mg/kg orally at -1 hour and +3 hours--was protective. On the other hand nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, indomethacin, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid) were ineffective. These data suggested that XO might be involved in the induction of pulmonary damage by LPS. However, treatment with the interferon inducer polyriboinosylic-polyribocytidylic acid, although inducing XO to the same extent as LPS, did not cause any pulmonary edema, indicating that XO is not sufficient for this toxicity of LPS. To define the possible role of cytokines, we studied the effect of direct administration of LPS (600 micrograms/mouse, IP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF, 2.5 or 50 micrograms/mouse, IV), interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta, 2.5 micrograms/mouse, IV), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma, 2.5 micrograms/mouse, IV), or their combination at 2.5 micrograms each. In addition to LPS, only TNF at the highest dose induced pulmonary edema 24 hours later. LPS-induced pulmonary edema was partially inhibited by anti-IFN-gamma antibodies but not by anti-TNF antibodies, anti-IL-1 beta antibodies, or IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra).

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1993

Suramin induces deoligomerization of human tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Suramin inhibits the biological activity of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) through a direct action on the ligand rather than on its receptors (Grazioli, L., Alzani, R., Ciomei, M., Mariani, M., Restivo, A., Cozzi, E., and Marcucci, F. (1992) Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 14, 637-642). In order to clarify the mechanism whereby suramin leads to inhibition of TNF, we investigated the possibility that suramin might modify the quaternary structure of TNF which is biologically active as a trimer. For this purpose we used a new assay (double streptavidin sandwich assay) designed for the rapid detection of oligomer-monomer conversion of proteins. Taking advantage of this assay we observed, upon incubation with suramin, dissociation of TNF. Suramin-induced dissociation of TNF was confirmed by gel filtration chromatography. Under conditions of partial dissociation, two molecular species were separated. One of higher molecular weight, corresponding to trimeric TNF, was biologically active, whereas the other, corresponding to monomeric TNF, was inactive. These results are at variance with others recently reported, where suramin has been shown to induce microaggregation of several polypeptides (Middaugh, C. R., Mach, H., Burke, C. J., Volkin, D. B., Dabora, J. M., Tsai, P. K., Bruner, M. W., Ryan, J. A., and Marfia, K. E. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 9016-9024). This suggests that suramin inhibits the bioactivity of different protein molecules through opposite effects on their quaternary structure. The present results are, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a drug inhibiting a target molecule through dissociation of its quaternary structure.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Molecular mapping and detoxification of the lipid A binding site by synthetic peptides.

Endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], the major antigen of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, consists of a variable-size carbohydrate chain that is covalently linked to N,O-acylated beta-1,6-D-glucosamine disaccharide 1,4'-bisphosphate (lipid A). The toxic activity of LPS resides in the lipid A structure. The structural features of synthetic peptides that bind to lipid A with high affinity, detoxify LPS in vitro, and prevent LPS-induced cytokine release and lethality in vivo were defined. The binding thermodynamics were comparable to that of an antigen-antibody reaction. Such synthetic peptides may provide a strategy for prophylaxis and treatment of LPS-mediated diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Inhibitors of cytochrome P450 suppress tumor necrosis factor production.

We tested the effect of different inhibitors of cytochrome P450 on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. Metyrapone and SKF525A (100 and 50 mg/kg, ip, respectively) suppressed serum TNF induced by cotreatment with endotoxin (LPS), (2.5 micrograms/mouse). Inhibition was independent of endogenous corticosteroids since it was also observed in adrenalectomized mice. In vitro production of TNF by endotoxin-stimulated human monocytes was also inhibited by metyrapone and SKF525A. Since lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitors also block TNF production and metyrapone was reported to inhibit LO, we suggest that inhibition by metyrapone and SKF525A might be due to inhibition of either LO or a cytochrome P450 implicated in the oxidation of endogenous substrates involved in the inflammatory response.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Mast cells do not contribute to the rapid appearance of TNF in the serum of LPS-treated mice: a study with mast cell-deficient mice.

Mast cells have been proposed to be an important source of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The purpose of this work was to investigate their relevance in the rapid appearance of TNF in the serum of mice after injection of an endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). We have therefore measured TNF levels in serum and spleen homogenates of mast cell-deficient mice (WBB6F1-W/Wv) or their normal littermate controls. The results indicated that mast cell-deficient mice are not defective in their LPS-induced TNF production. They also tend to produce more interleukin 6 (IL-6) than normal mice. To test other conditions where mast cells might be stimulated to produce TNF, we measured TNF in mice injected with the mast cell degranulator, compound 48/80 or during anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock induced very low levels of TNF in the serum, while compound 48/80 (4.2 mg/kg) was ineffective. These data suggest that mast cells do not contribute significantly to systemic TNF production in these experimental models.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1993

The pneumotoxicant paraquat induces IL-8 mRNA in human mononuclear cells and pulmonary epithelial cells.

Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide which is highly pneumotoxic by generating reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-1 and TNF, have been implicated in some ROI-mediated pathologies, including bleomycin toxicity and ischaemia/reperfusion injury. We have studied the effect of PQ on the expression of the neutrophil chemotactic cytokine, IL-8, by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). While almost no IL-8 mRNA was detected in unstimulated cells, PQ (100 microM) induced high mRNA expression with a maximum at 24 h of incubation. While PQ did stimulate the appearance of IL-8 mRNA, no significant production of IL-8 protein was detected. However, PQ potentiated the production of IL-8 in the presence of 1 ng/ml of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). This was paralleled by an increased production of chemotactic activity for neutrophils, indicating that the IL-8 was actually bioactive. Stimulation of IL-8 mRNA by PQ was suppressed by IL-4 and by free radical scavengers (dimethylsulfoxide, mannitol). Increased IL-8 expression by PQ was also observed in the human pulmonary epithelial cell line A549 indicating that the effect of PQ was not specific for PBMC. These findings suggest that IL-8 might be involved in the pulmonary effects of PQ and that its production might be stimulated following an oxidative insult, and might clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or oxidant-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1993

Role of tumour necrosis factor and reactive oxygen intermediates in lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary oedema and lethality.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and neutrophils (PMN) in the pathogenesis of pulmonary oedema induced by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)). Intraperitoneal administration to BALB/c mice of 0.6-1 mg of LPS caused pulmonary oedema and lethality. This was associated with production of TNF in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and with accumulation of PMN in the lung. In this experimental model, we could block TNF production by different means: pretreatment 30 min before LPS with 4 mg/kg of i.p. chlorpromazine (CPZ), 3 mg/kg of i.p. dexamethasone (DEX), 1 g/kg p.o. of N-acetylcysteine (NAC, an antioxidant precursor of glutathione), or an anti-TNF MoAb. CPZ, DEX and anti-TNF completely prevented LPS lethality but not pulmonary oedema or pulmonary PMN infiltration, indicating that: (i) lung oedema is not the main cause of death after LPS; and (ii) lung oedema induced by LPS is not mediated by TNF. Pretreatment with NAC not only inhibited TNF production but also protected against LPS-induced pulmonary oedema, indicating that reactive oxygen intermediates are implicated. NAC also blocked TNF production in blood and in bronchoalveolar lavage. We also tested the effect of PMN depletion induced with cyclophosphamide (CP) or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). While no pulmonary PMN infiltrate was observed in PMN-depleted mice, neutropenia did not prevent LPS lethality or oedema, indicating PMN do not play an important role in the toxic effects of LPS in this experimental model.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1993

Role of acute-phase proteins in interleukin-1-induced nonspecific resistance to bacterial infections in mice.

Treatment with a single low dose (80 to 800 ng) of interleukin-1 (IL-1) 24 h before a lethal bacterial challenge of granulocytopenic and normal mice enhances nonspecific resistance. Since IL-1 induces secretion of acute-phase proteins, liver proteins which possess several detoxifying effects, we investigated the role of these proteins in the IL-1-induced protection. Inhibition of liver protein synthesis with D-galactosamine (GALN) completely inhibited the IL-1-induced synthesis of acute-phase proteins. GALN pretreatment abolished the protective effect of IL-1 on survival completely (neutropenic mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa) or partially (nonneutropenic mice infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae). Pretreatment with IL-6, a cytokine induced by IL-1, did not reproduce the protection offered after IL-1 pretreatment, nor did it enhance or deteriorate the IL-1-enhanced resistance to infection. A protective effect of IL-1 via effects on glucose homeostasis during the acute-phase response was investigated by comparing plasma glucose levels in IL-1-treated mice and control mice before and during infection. Although glucose levels in IL-1-pretreated mice were somewhat higher in the later stages of infection, no significant differences from levels in control mice were present, and the glucose levels in control-treated animals never fell to hypoglycemic values. We conclude that the IL-1-induced nonspecific resistance is mediated neither by the induction of IL-6 nor by the effects of IL-1 on glucose homeostasis. Acute-phase proteins generated after IL-1 pretreatment, however, seem to play a critical role in the IL-1-induced protection to infection.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Modulation of systemic interleukin-6 induction by central interleukin-1.

Centrally administered interleukin (IL)-1 [both alpha and beta forms, 200 ng/rat intracerebroventricularly (icv)] results in a larger increase in serum IL-6 than after systemic injection, indicating the brain's role in the acute phase response. This action was prevented by the IL-1-receptor antagonist IL-1Ra (20 micrograms/rat icv). Neither antiserum against corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) nor the alpha-helical-CRF antagonist (25 micrograms/rat icv) affected IL-6 induction by central IL-1 beta, which, however, was significantly prevented by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone [3 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip)]. Naloxone, the opiate antagonist, but not naloxone methiodide, its quaternary salt that does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier (both administered at 10 mg/kg ip), antagonized this action of IL-1 beta. After intracerebroventricular IL-1 beta, IL-6 levels in brain areas (striatum, hippocampus, hypothalamus) were extremely low, suggesting that the brain does not significantly contribute to IL-6 synthesis in this condition. The results show that induction of high serum IL-6 levels by central IL-1 beta is mediated by brain IL-1 receptors and is sensitive to inhibition by corticosteroids. The inhibitory effect of naloxone suggests that central opiates are required for this action of IL-1 beta.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Early down-regulation of TNF production by LPS tolerance in human monocytes: comparison with IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8.

We studied the effect of a 4-hr preexposure to LPS on the ability of human monocytes to respond to a subsequent stimulation with LPS in terms of cytokine production. LPS-preexposed monocytes did not produce TNF on LPS restimulation, but they retained the ability to produce IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8. LPS-tolerant monocytes were still capable of producing TNF when restimulated with zymosan. Down-regulation of TNF by LPS tolerance was also evident at the mRNA level. To investigate the possible mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we also studied the effect of LPS preexposure on membrane CD14, which was suggested to be an LPS receptor, and on intracellular cAMP, an inhibitor of TNF production. LPS induced a 50% decrease in CD14 expression. On the other hand, the increase in cAMP levels by LPS was not affected by preexposure to LPS. In conclusion, (a) TNF is more rapidly down-regulated than IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8 during LPS tolerance in vitro; (b) early LPS tolerance is associated with decreased CD14, which might partially explain the decreased LPS response; and (c) a feedback mechanism controlling TNF synthesis, cAMP elevation, is not down-regulated in LPS tolerance.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1993

Pharmacological activities of chlorpromazine involved in the inhibition of tumour necrosis factor production in vivo in mice.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) was shown to inhibit tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production in vivo. Several drugs sharing one of the various pharmacological activities of CPZ were tested in endotoxin-treated mice. It was found that alpha-blockers (prazosin, idazoxan, phenoxybenzamine), antiserotoninergics (methysergide, methergoline) and antihistamine (chlorpheniramine, promethazine) also inhibited TNF production indicating that the effectiveness of CPZ in protecting from endotoxin shock is due to its multiple pharmacological activities.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1993

Suppression of interleukin-6 production in endotoxin tolerance in a mouse glioma cell line: reversal by phorbol ester.

Tolerance to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) was shown to be mediated by an inhibition of cytokine production. We have studied the effect of 3-day pretreatment with LPS on production of IL-6 in response to a subsequent challenge with LPS in a mouse glioma. The results indicated that in this model, a complete blockage of IL-6 production is induced by LPS pretreatment. This is associated with a decrease of LPS-induced IL-6 mRNA levels. LPS-induced IL-6 production can be restored by PMA, as it was previously observed in vivo, suggesting that down-regulation of IL-6 response in LPS tolerance occurs at the transcriptional level, probably by down-regulating protein kinase C or some other PMA-activable signaling system. IL-6 production is also down-regulated by 3-day preincubation with IL-6 and, to a lesser extent, with IL-1 or TNF, indicating that IL-6 can down-regulate its own production.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Interferons induce xanthine dehydrogenase gene expression in L929 cells.

Human interferon-alpha A/D (Bg/II) (IFN-alpha A/D) and mouse interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) are shown to induce xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) mRNA in L929 fibroblastic cells. XD mRNA accumulation after IFN-alpha A/D treatment is relatively fast, being already evident after 4 h and reaching its maximum after 24 h. IFN-alpha A/D is active in inducing XD mRNA at 0.1 unit/ml and it is maximally active at 10(3) units/ml. The half-life of the XD message is unaffected by IFN-alpha A/D treatment, whereas the transcriptional activity of the XD gene and the concentrations of XD heterogeneous nuclear RNA are increased by 2- and 6-fold respectively. The effect of IFN-alpha A/D on XD mRNA is insensitive to cycloheximide, suggesting that protein synthesis de novo is not required. Experiments conducted with specific inhibitors suggest that protein kinase C, cyclic AMP and arachidonic acid metabolites derived from lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase do not act as second-messenger molecules in the induction of XD mRNA by IFN-alpha A/D. XD mRNA is also induced in NIH3T3 fibroblastic cells, but not in F9 teratocarcinoma or B16 melanoma cells after treatment with IFN-alpha A/D. NIH3T3 are the only cells so far tested that have detectable XD and xanthine oxidase activities under basal conditions and after IFN-alpha A/D treatment, although their responsiveness to the cytokine is much less than that observed in L929 cells.

Bucladesine↗
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning of a cDNA coding for mouse liver xanthine dehydrogenase. Regulation of its transcript by interferons in vivo.

The cDNA coding for xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) is isolated from mouse liver mRNA by cross-hybridization with a DNA fragment of the Drosophila melanogaster homologue. Two lambda bacteriophage overlapping clones represent the copy of a 4538-nucleotide-residue-long transcript with an open reading frame of 4005 nucleotide residues, coding for a putative polypeptide of 1335 amino acid residues. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the mouse XD with those of the Drosophila and the rat homologues shows a high conservation of this protein (55% identity between mouse and Drosophila, and 94% identity between mouse and rat). RNA blotting analysis demonstrates that interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and its inducers, i.e. poly(I).poly(C), bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tilorone (2,7-bis-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]fluoren-9-one), increase the expression of XD mRNA in liver. Poly(I).poly(C) also induces XD mRNA in several other tissues in vivo. Protein synthesis de novo is not required for the elevation of XD mRNA after IFN-alpha treatment, since cycloheximide does not block the induction. The elevation of XD mRNA concentration is relatively fast and precedes the induction of both XD and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzymic activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗