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Biomedical subjects

S Murota

Publications and source records attributed to S Murota.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Inhibitory effect of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phospholipids on 5-lipoxygenase in rat basophilic leukemia cells.

5-Lipoxygenase has been recognized to be an important enzyme that catalyzes the first step in leukotriene production. In this study we examine whether or not phospholipids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affect 5-lipoxygenase activity of a rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-1). Among the synthesized phospholipids examined, 1-oleoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1-oleoyl-2-DHA-PC) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase. The inhibition was dose-dependent and the ID50 value was 4.0 microM. When the fatty acid at the sn-2-position was replaced by other unsaturated fatty acids, the inhibitory activity decreased with decreasing numbers of both carbon atoms and double bonds in the fatty acids. Substitution at the 1-position of the DHA-containing PC also affected the inhibitory potency. If oleic acid was substituted with palmitic acid, the inhibition activity was completely abolished. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis showed that the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by 1-oleoyl-2-DHA-PC was non-competitive. The inhibition by this synthesized phospholipid was very specific to 5-lipoxygenase; that is, it did not extend to fatty acid cyclooxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase or 15-lipoxygenase. These results suggest that endogenously existing DHA-containing phospholipids may affect 5-lipoxygenase activity and thus control leukotriene biosynthesis in vivo.

Animals↗

Inhibition of angiogenesis by erbstatin, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase.

Here we describe the inhibitory effect of erbstatin, a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on in vivo angiogenesis. Inhibition of angiogenesis was determined in a bioassay system involving chorioallantoic membranes of growing chick embryos. Erbstatin produced a dose-dependent inhibitory action on embryonic angiogenesis. This inhibition occurred at as small a dose as 10 ng/egg and the ID50 value was 80 ng/egg. To analyze this inhibition, in vitro experiments involving vascular endothelial cells were also performed. Erbstatin affected the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, one of angiogenic components. This inhibition was dose-dependent, the IC50 value being 3.6 microM. These data indicate that erbstatin-sensitive tyrosine kinase(s) is involved in angiogenic endothelial cell proliferation, and that experiments involving erbstatin will provide an important due to understand a mechanism of angiogenesis.

Animals↗

[Distribution of nitric oxide synthase activity in rat brain--analysis by high performance liquid chromatography].

As a basic study to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of central nervous system diseases, we have established an assay system to measure nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity by a high performance liquid chromatography monitoring conversion of arginine into citrulline. NOS activity in the rat brain was calcium-dependent and inhibited by L-nitro-arginine, a specific NOS inhibitor. The activities in the discrete brain regions were in the order cerebellum > olfactory bulb > striatum > hippocampus > cerebral cortex > midbrain > hypothalamus > pons.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Mechanism for endothelial cell injury induced by 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid, an arachidonate lipoxygenase product.

The mechanisms for endothelial cell injury induced by the lipid hydroperoxide 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE), an arachidonate lipoxygenase product, were explored in cultured bovine endothelial cells. In serum-free medium, there was significant incorporation of [3H]-15-HPETE into the phospholipids of endothelial monolayers, and 15-HPETE induced severe endothelial cell injury, which was determined by the 51Cr-release assay. In contrast, in serum containing medium, there was little incorporation of [3H]-15-HPETE into the cells, and no cellular injury occurred. In the serum free condition, [3H]-15-HPETE was mainly incorporated into the phospholipids. The incorporated 15-HPETE produced lipid peroxidation, which was determined by the accumulation of malondialdehyde in the cells. The 15-HPETE-induced lipid peroxidation was suppressed by radical scavengers (MK-447, MCI-186), anti-oxidants (alpha-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene) and iron chelators (desferrioxamine,2,2'-bipyridine). Furthermore, these agents also suppressed the 15-HPETE-induced cytotoxicity. These results indicate that 15-HPETE-induced endothelial cell injury depends on iron-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Animals↗

Roles of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase in the protection against endothelial cell injury induced by 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid.

We investigated the role of the glutathione redox cycle in endothelial cell injury induced by 15(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE), an arachidonate lipoxygenase product. Pretreatment of endothelial monolayers with reduced glutathione (GSH) markedly suppressed 15-HPETE-induced cellular injury, which was determined by the 51Cr-release assay. 15-HPETE-induced cytotoxicity was modified by several GSH-modulating agents such as buthionine sulfoximine and 2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate, indicating that this cyto-protective action of GSH was correlated with the intracellular GSH level. These GSH-modulating agents also modified the conversion of 15-HPETE to 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by endothelial cells. On the other hand, the exposure of endothelial cell monolayers to 15-HPETE did not deplete intracellular GSH levels but decreased GSH peroxidase activity. In addition, sodium selenite and ebselen, a stimulator and mimic of GSH peroxidase activity, respectively, displayed remarkable protective effects against 15-HPETE-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that intracellular GSH plays a pivotal role in the protection against 15-HPETE-induced endothelial cell injury, and that the decreased activity of GSH peroxidase activity is involved in 15-HPETE-induced cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of interleukin 6 on prostaglandin I2 production in cultured bovine vascular endothelial cells.

The effect of interleukin 6 (IL-6) upon arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism was studied in cultured bovine vascular endothelial cells (BVECs). Although, in those BVECs pretreated with IL-6 for 48 h, there was no effect upon cell proliferation, it was discovered that IL-6 suppressed the conversion of AA to prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) in cellular homogenates. First signs of the suppression occurred 3 h after incubation, and thereafter the suppression increased with time until it leveled off at 12 h. This effect of IL-6 was concentration-dependent, ranging from 20 ng/ml to a maximum of 100 ng/ml with IL-6 at 47% of control. IL-6 had no effect upon AA conversion when exogenously added to the BVEC homogenates. To investigate the mechanism of the suppression induced by IL-6, we studied its effect upon PGI2 synthesizing enzymes. We found that IL-6 had no effect upon the release of AA from phospholipids, but inhibited cyclooxygenase, the key enzyme for PGI2 production from AA. To amplify PGI2 production, AA was added exogenously to both control and IL-6-treated BVECs, and in this case also, the conversion activity in IL-6-treated BVEC's was suppressed. Through immunoblot analysis with an antibody to cyclooxygenase, it was determined that the level of cyclooxygenase protein was lowered in IL-6-treated cells. This is the first report to confirm down expression of cyclooxygenase in addition to the first observation as to the effect of IL-6 on endothelial cells.

Animals↗

Priming effects of leukotriene B4 on endothelial cell injury induced by TPA-activated leukocytes.

Among arachidonic acid metabolites, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) plays an important role in inflammation, such as in the activation, adhesion, chemotaxis, and invasion of leukocytes. In this paper, we examined the effect of LTB4 on endothelial cell injury induced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). 51Cr release, a marker of cellular injury, was elicited from prelabeled endothelial cells when the cells were cocultured with PMNLs activated by phorbol ester (TPA, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate). Under this condition, pretreatment of PMNLs with LTB4 enhanced their injury in a dose-dependent manner (0.2-2 microM). However, LTB4 alone at any dose could not induce any cellular injury. We also determined the amount of active oxygen species produced by PMNLs in response to TPA. The intensity of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, a marker of active oxygen production, in PMNLs was also increased by pretreatment with 1 microM LTB4. These data suggest that LTB4 enhances endothelial cell injury by the priming effect on active oxygen production in activated PMNLs.

Cell Adhesion↗

Ipriflavone inhibits murine osteoclast formation in vitro.

Ipriflavone, one of the isoflavone derivatives, is a therapeutic drug for osteoporosis. The mechanism is thought to be the inhibition of bone resorption. In the present paper, we report that ipriflavone inhibited formation of osteoclasts from murine spleen cells co-cultured with stromal cells cloned from murine bone marrow. In this system, ipriflavone inhibited osteoclast generation in a dose-dependent manner (10(-7)-10(-5) M). Ipriflavone also inhibited prostaglandin E2 production in MC3T3-E1 cells, which are widely employed as osteoblasts. Moreover, ipriflavone inhibited the proliferation of stromal cells (10(-6)-10(-5) M), but not osteoblastic cells. These results suggest that one mechanism for the inhibitory effects of ipriflavone on bone resorption is the inhibition of osteoclast formation through inhibiting prostaglandin E2 production in osteoblasts and thereby suppressing proliferation of stromal cells.

3T3 Cells↗

Stimulatory effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I on migration and tube formation by vascular endothelial cells.

The effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on migration, proliferation and tube-forming activity of endothelial cells were investigated, by using bovine carotid artery endothelial cells. Migration was assayed by a filter membrane technique and tube formation was assayed by a quantitative angiogenesis in vitro model which we have recently developed. In this model, endothelial cells are cultured between two layers of type I collagen gel and become organized into tube-like structures which mimic capillaries in vivo ultrastructurally. Insulin (50-1000 microunits/ml) and IGF-I (10-200 ng/ml) significantly stimulated migration of endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal stimulation of 3.0-fold at 1000 microunits/ml for insulin and 3.8-fold at 200 ng/ml for IGF-I (P less than 0.01). Insulin at concentrations up to 1000 microunits/ml and IGF-I up to 100 ng/ml did not affect proliferation of endothelial cells. When insulin or IGF-I was added in culture medium on collagen gels, tube-forming activity of endothelial cells was markedly stimulated. The specific lengths of tubes significantly increased with the increase in insulin concentration from 25 to 100 microunits/ml (P less than 0.01). At 100 microunits/ml, the stimulation was 1.77-fold (P less than 0.01). IGF-I (1-100 ng/ml) also stimulated the elongation of tubes dose-dependently with a maximal stimulation of 1.96-fold at 100 ng/ml (P less than 0.01). Thus, insulin and IGF-I at pathophysiological concentrations stimulate migration and tube-forming activity of endothelial cells, suggesting that these polypeptides may stimulate repair of endothelial injury in cases such as atherosclerosis and may act as a stimulator of angiogenesis.

Animals↗

The existence of distinct classes of prostaglandin E2 receptors mediating adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C pathways in osteoblastic clone MC3T3-E1.

We have reported previously that PGE2 evoked an increase in intracellular calcium level ([Ca2+]i) in mouse osteoblastic cells (1). Here, we investigated the effects of PGE1 and PGF2 alpha on cAMP production and [Ca2+]i in comparison with those of PGE2. In osteoblastic clone, MC3T3-E1 cells, PGE1 stimulated cAMP production, but had no effect on [Ca2+]i, whereas PGF2 alpha evoked only [Ca2+]i increase. In contrast, PGE2 not only stimulated cAMP production, but also increased [Ca2+]i. From the Scatchard plot analysis of PGE2 it was confirmed that there were two classes of PGE2 binding sites (Kd value, 9.2 nM; binding site, 29 fmole/mg protein, and Kd value, 134 nM; binding site, 148 fmole/mg protein). As the increase in [Ca2+]i was caused by PGF2 alpha and PGE2, but not by PGE1, we investigated the displacement of [3H]-PGF2 alpha binding. The displacement capacity of unlabeled PGE2 was about 110 of that of PGF2 alpha, while that of PGE1 was very low even at 500-fold excess. These data indicate the possibility that the dual action of PGE2 is mediated by distinct receptor systems.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Effect of 15-deoxyspergualin, a microbial angiogenesis inhibitor, on the biological activities of bovine vascular endothelial cells.

We found recently that 15-deoxyspergualin, an analog of spergualin, which is an antibiotic and includes a spermidine moiety in its structure, exhibits anti-angiogenic activity. We have now carried out in vitro experiments with bovine vascular endothelial cells to determine which events occurring during angiogenesis are affected by this microbial angiogenesis inhibitor. 15-Deoxyspergualin did not inhibit the production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) or type IV collagenase by vascular endothelial cells. The direct inhibition of u-PA activity by 15-deoxyspergualin was not observed either. The angiostatic antibiotic neither affected the migration of vascular endothelial cells nor inhibited the endothelial cell proliferation in a two-dimensional culture system. We also examined the effect of 15-deoxyspergualin on the proliferation of endothelial cells in a three-dimensional culture system involving collagen gel, in which cell growth resembles more closely the endothelial cell proliferation during in vivo angiogenesis than that in a two-dimensional culture system without collagen gel. The antibiotic inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the three-dimensional culture system is useful for finding a new angiogenesis inhibitor with a different mode of action from those of angiogenesis inhibitors found by using a two-dimensional assay system; however, no cause-effect relationship has yet been established. Taken together, these results suggest the possible involvement of the inhibition of vascular endothelial cell growth by 15-deoxyspergualin in its angiogenesis-inhibitory effect. 15-Deoxyspergualin appears to be a promising candidate as an angiogenesis inhibitor for controlling aberrant angiogenic responses occurring in different states, including tumor development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

IL-6 increases endothelial permeability in vitro.

The effect of interleukin 6 (IL-6) on endothelial permeability was examined by measuring fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled albumin flux across an endothelial cell monolayer. Bovine vascular endothelial cells (BVEC) were cultured up to confluency on collagen-coated polycarbonate micropore filters and then the filters were mounted on modified Boyden chambers. Treatment of the BVEC with IL-6 at 100 ng/ml for 21 h caused a remarkable increase in the permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled albumin across the endothelial monolayer. This effect of IL-6 was concentration dependent, in the range from 10-200 ng/ml of IL-6. The effect of IL-6 was also time dependent, the maximal level being reached at 21 h from the beginning of the treatment. This stimulatory effect of IL-6 on albumin clearance was completely abolished by the addition of anti-IL-6 antibody. Light microscopic observation of a cross-section of a monolayer showed that the IL-6-induced increase in the permeability was correlated with changes in cell shape and rearrangement of intracellular actin fibers. IL-6 did not show any cytotoxicity toward or growth inhibition of endothelial cells, even at more than 200 ng/ml. The enhancing effect of IL-6 on the increase in the permeability was reversible; when IL-6 was removed by a medium change and the cells were incubated for a further 24 h without IL-6, the permeability was restored to the control level. These results suggest that IL-6 can induce an increase in endothelial permeability in vitro by rearranging actin filaments and by changing the shape of endothelial cells.

Actins↗

Inhibition of angiogenesis by staurosporine, a potent protein kinase inhibitor.

The effect of staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinases, on embryonic angiogenesis was studied in an in vivo assay system involving chorioallantoic membranes of growing chick embryo. Staurosporine inhibited embryonic angiogenesis in a dose-related manner, the ID50 value being 71 pmol/egg. Staurosporine dose-dependently suppressed the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, an important event involved in the angiogenesis process. The IC50 value was 0.88 nM. In contrast, staurosporine did not affect the migration of vascular endothelial cells. These results suggest that staurosporine affected embryonic angiogenesis probably by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, these results might support the notion that certain protein kinase(s) could be implicated in induction of angiogenesis and also that staurosporine would be a useful compound for studying a mode of action of angiogenesis occurring in various diseases, including tumor development.

Alkaloids↗

Action of a novel kinin precursor, Met-T-kinin-Leu, on prostaglandin I2 and blood pressure.

The novel kinin precursor, Met-T-kinin-Leu, stimulated the release of prostaglandin I2 from endothelial cells cultured using bovine carotid artery endothelial cells and minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. However, it failed to stimulate the release of prostaglandin I2 from the cells in the fetal calf serum-free medium conditions. To examine the discrepancy of the release of prostaglandin I2 from the cells by Met-T-kinin-Leu in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum, the products formed from Met-T-kinin-Leu by incubation of culture medium were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC. Regarding the blood pressure reaction of Met-T-kinin-Leu, it showed from one fifth to one hundredth of that compared with bradykinin in blood pressure reactivity of each species, such as rats, rabbits and cats.

Animals↗

Pathophysiological roles of arachidonic acid metabolites in rat dental pulp.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in normal rat incisor pulp was examined by measuring the conversion activity of exogenously added arachidonic acid in pulpal homogenates. It was demonstrated that the major metabolites were 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and prostaglandin (PG) I2. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that PGI2 synthase was distributed in the pulpal blood-vessel cells, fibroblasts and odontoblasts, suggesting that PGI2 may contribute to regulating the function of these cells. When the incisor pulp was experimentally inflamed by applying lipopolysaccharide, arachidonic acid metabolism in the pulp showed overall increase. Change in the pulpal vascular permeability, which was assessed by quantifying the amount of extravasated dye, was almost parallel to the changes in PGE2 and PGI2 production. When production of the PGs was inhibited by indomethacin, the increase of vascular permeability in the inflamed pulp was also suppressed. Topically-applied PGE2 and PGI2 methyl ester abolished the suppression of increase in vascular permeability by indomethacin. These results suggest that PGE2 and PGI2 may be involved in the increase of vascular permeability in the experimental pulp inflammation. We further measured the production of leukotriene (LT) B4 in the inflamed pulp by incubating isolated pulp samples with Ca ionophore A23187, followed by radioimmunoassay. Change in LTB4 production was revealed to be almost parallel to that of neutrophil infiltration. BW755C, an inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, reduced both LTB4 production and neutrophil infiltration. Accordingly, it was suggested that LTB4 may be involved in neutrophil infiltration in the experimental pulp inflammation.

Animals↗

Eponemycin, a novel antibiotic, is a highly powerful angiogenesis inhibitor.

Eponemycin, a novel antibiotic, was examined as to its anti-angiogenic activity in an in vivo assay system involving chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of growing chick embryos. Eponemycin powerfully inhibited angiogenesis in the CAMs. This powerful inhibition was dose-dependent, the inhibitory activity becoming detectable at a dose of 7.5 fmol/egg and the ID50 value being 250 fmol/egg, suggesting that eponemycin exhibits more potent anti-angiogenic activity than Ch 55, a synthetic retinoid, which had been the strongest angiogenesis inhibitor identified so far. To determine which event(s) in the angiogenesis process was affected by eponemycin, experiments were conducted using systems involving cultured vascular endothelial cells. Eponemycin effectively inhibited both the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, indicating that the antibiotic affected these two important events during angiogenesis, resulting in effective inhibition of angiogenesis. These results strongly suggest that eponemycin could be a promising candidate as an angiogenesis inhibitor for the control of aberrant angiogenesis occurring in different diseases such as tumor development and diabetic retinopathy.

Allantois↗

Presence of nitric oxide synthase activity in the neurons of the rat embryonal cerebrum.

Nitric oxide (NO), apparently identical to endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in blood vessels, has been reported to be formed in adult brain tissue, and the possible physiological significance of NO in neuron functions has been suggested. The present study was undertaken to demonstrate the biochemical evidence of the presence of NO synthase activity in intact neurons. In this report, we will demonstrate first that NO synthase is also present in fetal brain where neurons can easily be isolated from and can be cultured in vitro and then we will present the evidence that the cultured neurons are responsible for NO production. We will also show that the distribution pattern of NO synthase in adult brain detected by our biochemical method is well consistent with the immunohistochemical data reported so far. NO synthase activity, which was measured as the formation of [3H]citrulline from [3H]arginine in the presence of Ca2+ and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), existed in the homogenate of adult rat cerebrum, olfactory bulb and cerebellum. The cerebellum showed the strongest NO synthase activity and the cerebrum showed the least but significant activity. It was also revealed that NO synthase activity also existed in the homogenate of cerebra of rat embryos, the activity, however, was about half of that in adult cerebrum. Furthermore, the homogenate of the cultured neurons prepared from the rat embryonal cerebra has also shown NO synthase activity. These results suggest that NO has some important roles in the development of the neuron system.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Arachidonic acid metabolism in cultured astrocytes: presence of 12-lipoxygenase activity in the intact cells.

In our previous study, it was revealed that the exogenous arachidonic acid is mainly metabolized by the lipoxygenase pathway in the cell-free homogenate of cultured astrocytes. This is apparently in contrast with other studies reporting production and release of the cyclooxygenase products (prostaglandins and thromboxanes) by cultured astrocytes. To help specify the reason for this discrepancy, the metabolism of endogenous arachidonic acid in the intact monolayer of cultured astrocytes was examined. When the astrocytes were stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187, a peak coeluted with authentic 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was observed. Formation of this peak was not affected by indomethacin, a speciic inhibitor for cyclooxygenase, but completely inhibited by BW755C, an inhibitor for both cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenases. Furthermore, the ultraviolet spectrum of the substance giving this peak agreed well with that of authentic 12-HETE. The amount of 12-HETE formed and released by the astrocytes was estimated to be 293.1 ng/mg protein/1 h. Taken together, these results suggest that the endogenous arachidonic acid is mainly metabolized by 12-lipoxygenase in the intact monolayer of astrocytes.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗