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Chelerythrine, a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, counteracts pyrogen-induced expression of tissue factor without effect on thrombomodulin down-regulation in endothelial cells.

Endotoxin, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) dose-dependently increased the expression of tissue factor and at the same time induced thrombomodulin down-regulation on the surface of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. Chelerythrine, a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, strongly reduced endotoxin-, IL1 beta- and TNF alpha-induced tissue factor expression but remained without effect with regard to thrombomodulin down-regulation measured in parallel. On the contrary, staurosporine, a highly potent, non-selective PKC inhibitor, simultaneously abolished tissue factor expression and thrombomodulin down-regulation induced by endotoxin, IL1 beta and TNF alpha. These results show that protein kinase C is deeply involved in the process leading to pyrogen-induced tissue factor expression and suggest that thrombomodulin down-regulation is regulated by a different pathway.

Alkaloids↗

Both activators and inhibitors of protein kinase C promote the inhibition of phenylephrine-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in single intact rat hepatocytes.

In single isolated rat hepatocytes Ca(2+)-mobilising hormones induce oscillations in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in which the frequency of spiking depends on agonist dose, but the time course of individual spikes depends on the hormone species, rather than agonist concentration. We have previously presented data using sphingosine and staurosporine as evidence of a negative feedback role for protein kinase C (PKC) in the elongation of the falling phase of [Ca2+]i spikes. We show here that the principal effect of three specific PKC inhibitors, namely the bis-indolylmaleimide GF 109203X, the tetracyclic aromatic alkaloid chelerythrine, and a myristoylated PKC pseudosubstrate peptide, that act at different sites on the PKC molecule, is a reduction in, or a complete suppression of, the phenylephrine-induced [Ca2+]i oscillation frequency. These results resemble the effects of activators of PKC and modulators of diacylglycerol (DAG) metabolism. Furthermore, following phorbol ester-induced inhibition of the hepatocyte [Ca2+]i oscillator, the addition of all three of these PKC inhibitors further reduces the [Ca2+]i oscillation frequency, with high concentrations of chelerythrine being the only agent that overcomes this inhibition by phorbol ester. These paradoxical results point to the need for caution in interpreting the effects of protocols involving PKC activators and inhibitors in assessing the feedback control from PKC on cellular [Ca2+]i oscillations.

Alkaloids↗

The antileukemic alkaloid fagaronine and the human K 562 leukemic cells: effects on growth and induction of erythroid differentiation.

In view of new antitumor compounds which could exert their therapeutic effect through a combination of cell growth inhibition and cell maturation, we describe here the effects of a novel antileukemic alkaloid, fagaronine, on the growth and the induction of hemoglobin synthesis in the K 562 cell line. We found that fagaronine, after 3 days, reduces in a concentration dependent relationship the cell growth rate without lethality and this effect on the cell growth is irreversible. Reducing the cell growth rate by 50% (IC50 = 3 X 10(-6)M) is sufficient to induce an optimal amount of hemoglobin synthesis (75% benzidine-positive cells, 13-15 pg hemoglobin/cell) after 4 days of culture. Considering the variation of the total intracellular protein content during the response, it appears that fagaronine stimulated mainly hemoglobin synthesis, and to a lesser extent non-hemoglobin proteins. These results suggest that the novel antileukemic alkaloid, fagaronine, can be considered as a potent inducer of differentiated-associated properties in the human K 562 leukemic cells.

Alkaloids↗

Effect of fagaronine on cell cycle progression of human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

Fagaronine (Fine) is a novel antileukemic drug extracted from Fagara xanthoxyloides Lam. (Rutaceae). In an attempt to know more about its mechanism of action we describe here its inhibitory activity on cell division, 3H-thymidine incorporation and on cell cycle progression. Fine inhibits cell proliferation of K562 cells by 50% at a concentration of 3 x 10(-6) mol/l at day 4. It stimulates incorporation of labelled macromolecular thymidine on day 1, but decreases incorporation on days 2, 3 and 4. Fine induces a cell accumulation in G2 and late-S phases. This accumulation (i) increases with Fine concentration, but a complete blockade is not observed, (ii) reaches a plateau after approximately 48 h, (iii) is reversible, whereas we have previously shown that cell growth inhibition and differentiation were not reversible.

Alkaloids↗

Leukocyte proliferation mediated by protein kinase C in the marine teleost fish, Sciaenops ocellatus.

A major route of signal transduction in mammalian lymphocytes is the phosphatidyl inositol (PI) pathway. As previously demonstrated in the channel catfish, and confirmed in the present work with the red drum, modulators of the PI pathway such as phorbol ester and calcium ionophore acted synergistically to stimulate proliferation of teleost peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). Red drum PBL also proliferated strongly in response to phorbol ester alone, at doses which were not mitogenic for catfish PBL. Cell depletion studies suggested that macrophage-derived cytokines probably played a role in supporting the mitogenic response to phorbol ester alone. Dose titration studies with a panel of kinase inhibitors suggested that mitogenic and synergistic doses of phorbol ester primarily targeted an enzyme activity similar to protein kinase C (PKC). However, in the same inhibitor studies, the target enzyme was insensitive to staurosporine, suggesting the involvement of an unusual form of PKC. Similarly, cell proliferation stimulated by phorbol ester was suppressed, but not eliminated by a calcium channel blocker Verapamil. Thus, while the synergistic action of phorbol ester and calcium ionophore appeared to be mediated by a PI pathway, these studies have suggested that PKC isoforms and membrane ion pumps unique to the lower vertebrates may participate in regulation of the cell cycle.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Absence of mutagenicity of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster: comparison with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and chrysene.

The wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of Drosophila melanogaster was used to study the mutagenic potential of three benzo[c]phenanthridines with antileukemic properties, fagaronine, nitidine and O-methylfagaronine, as compared with that of two structurally related aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons: 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and chrysene. Although toxic to larvae, the benzo[c]phenanthridines and chrysene gave negative or inconclusive results while 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was found to be highly mutagenic and recombinogenic as previously reported. These results suggest that the alkoxy groups and the quaternary nitrogen of the benzo[c]-phenanthridines may reduce or eliminate their mutagenicity in spite of their similarity to methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Evaluation of genotoxicity of the indenoisoquinoline analogues of fagaronine and nitidine in Drosophila melanogaster.

The wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster was done to evaluate the genotoxicity of the antitumor indenoisoquinoline analogues of nitidine chloride and fagaronine chloride in larvae. Both compounds have toxic effects but no statistically significant increase in the frequency of spots was detected with the analogue of nitidine chloride. This strongly suggests that this compound is not mutagenic to Drosophila larvae at the concentrations tested. Results with the analogue of fagaronine chloride were ambiguous. Low mutagenicity was detected in only one of two experiments and in the pooled results at 2 mM but not at 5 mM or 10 mM. These results suggest at best a very weak genotoxic effect but its biological significance needs confirmation by results from other assays.

Alkaloids↗

Antiplatelet effects of chelerythrine chloride isolated from Zanthoxylum simulans.

Chelerythrine chloride is an antiplatelet agent isolated from Zanthoxylum simulans. Aggregation and ATP release of washed rabbit platelets caused by ADP, arachidonic acid, PAF, collagen, ionophore A23187 and thrombin were inhibited by chelerythrine chloride. Less inhibition was observed in platelet-rich plasma. The thromboxane B2 formation of washed platelets caused by arachidonic acid, collagen, ionophore A23187 and thrombin was decreased by chelerythrine chloride. Phosphoinositides breakdown caused by collagen and PAF was completely inhibited by chelerythrine chloride, while that of thrombin was only partially suppressed. Chelerythrine chloride inhibited the intracellular calcium increase caused by arachidonic acid, PAF, collagen and thrombin in quin-2/AM-loaded platelets. The cyclic AMP level of washed platelets did not elevated by chelerythrine chloride. The antiplatelet effect of chelerythrine chloride was not dependent on the incubation time and the aggregability of platelets inhibited by chelerythrine chloride was easily recovered after sedimenting the platelets by centrifugation and then the platelet pellets were resuspended. Chelerythrine chloride did not cause any platelet lysis, since lactate dehydrogenase activity was not found in the supernatant. These data indicate that the inhibitory effect of chelerythrine chloride on rabbit platelet aggregation and release reaction is due to the inhibition on thromboxane formation and phosphoinositides breakdown.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Activation of protein kinase C during cell volume regulation in Ehrlich mouse ascites tumor cells.

We have previously demonstrated that in Ehrlich cells a bumetanide-sensitive Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter is activated during regulatory volume decrease after cell shrinkage (hypertonic conditions) as well as during the late phase of regulatory volume decrease (hypotonic conditions). It is, however, quiescent under isotonic conditions. Using a protein kinase C assay system (Amersham, UK) it is here demonstrated that hypertonic cell shrinkage results in an increase in protein kinase C activity to 174% within the first minute, concomitant with the activation of the Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter. Hypotonic cell swelling results in a late activation of protein kinase C concomitant with a late activation of the Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter. The activation of protein kinase C during hypertonic as well as hypotonic conditions is inhibited by H-7. The more specific protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine inhibited protein kinase C as well as the Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter to the same extent as did H-7. These results indicate the involvement of protein kinase C in the regulation of the Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells during cell volume regulation.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Thiol-bearing compounds selectively inhibit protein kinase C-dependent oxidative events and proliferation in human T cells.

The aminothiol cysteamine at 10(-5) to 10(-4) M concentrations inhibited both the proliferation of mitogenically stimulated human peripheral mononuclear cells and the phorbol myristate acetate-mediated oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein within these cells. Both 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein oxidation and the proliferative response were maximally sensitive to cysteamine-induced inhibition during the first 2 h of mitogenic stimulation. This period of sensitivity indicates that cysteamine preferentially arrests cells transiting from G0 to G1 and is the first such demonstration, of an early cell cycle site of arrest for this compound. 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propane-sulfonic acid and WR 1065 were found to be more effective than cysteamine in attenuating T cell replication but not N-acetylcysteine. Aminothiols preferentially inhibited the intracellular oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein, rather than the activity of protein kinase C, which initiates the oxidation, indicating that oxidative events are one of a number of crucial and independent events required for the successful transition through G0-G1. Since aminothiols affect both lectin and PMA/ionomycin-directed proliferation, these aminothiol-sensitive events may serve to integrate and regulate common pathways in T cell activation.

Alkaloids↗

Physicochemical properties of commercially available mouthrinses.

This study evaluated physicochemical properties of eight commercially available mouthrinses, namely surface tension, in vivo enamel contact angle, viscosity, penetration coefficient, acidity and buffer capacity. The penetration coefficient, determined by the surface tension, contact angle and viscosity, is a measure of the ability of a liquid to penetrate into a capillary space, such as interproximal regions, gingival pockets and pores. The acidity is often determined by a compromise of the requirements for taste, enamel remineralization and stability of the solution. Among the eight mouthrinses evaluated, the physicochemical properties differed greatly, in particular, the penetration coefficient which varied by a factor of 1.8 over the products tested. Surprisingly several of the products tested were found to be extremely acidic.

Aerosols↗

Thermodynamics of the interactions of sanguinarine with DNA: influence of ionic strength and base composition.

Using a combination of spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric techniques, we report the first thermodynamic characterization of sanguinarine binding to a series of natural and synthetic host DNA duplexes over a wide range of temperature and sodium concentration. The binding isotherms fit reasonably well to the neighbour exclusion model. The salt and temperature dependence of the binding constants is used to estimate the thermodynamic parameters involved in the interaction of the alkaloid with DNA. The resulting binding data are found to be sensitive to the ionic strength of the medium, base composition and sequence of base pairs. When the sodium ion concentration is increased from 0.005 M to 0.5 M, the binding free energy changes vary in a range from -8.47 to -7.1 kcal mol-1, which corresponds to a binding constant range from 1.85 x 10(6) to 1.8 x 10(5) M-1 at 20 degrees C. More distinct is the spread in the binding enthalpy changes which range from -6.35 to -2.62 kcal mol-1 corresponding to binding entropy changes from +7.22 to +15.3 cal K-1 mol-1 at 20 degrees C. On the other hand when the GC content of the host DNA duplexes is increased, the binding free energy varies in a range from -7.28 to -8.58 kcal mol-1 with the binding enthalpy changes ranging from -0.46 to -14.31 kcal mol-1, while corresponding binding entropy changes range from +23.3 to -19.56 cal K-1 mol-1 at 20 degrees C. Sanguinarine binding to natural DNAs and homo- and heteropolymers of AT is characterized by negative enthalpy changes and positive entropy changes, while binding to homo- and heteropolymers of GC is reflected by both negative enthalpy changes and entropy changes. Possible molecular contributions towards sign and magnitude of the thermodynamic parameters and their dependence on ionic strength, base composition and sequences, are discussed.

Alkaloids↗

The differential effects of protein kinase C activators and inhibitors on rat anterior pituitary hormone release.

We investigated the possibility that various protein kinase C (PKC) activators and inhibitors may differentially affect luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) release from rat anterior pituitary tissue, incubated in vitro. Activators of PKC induced LH release with the following order of potency: mezerein > phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). Mezerein and PDBu were equipotent on GH release. A range of PKC inhibitors (including compounds highly selective for PKC) potently and completely inhibited PKC activator-induced LH and GH release. Chelerythrine and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7) were less potent inhibitors of PDBu-induced GH release than of LH release. A component of PDBu- and mezerein-induced LH release was inhibited by H7 with high potency, but a second H7-insensitive component was detected. Mezerein- and PDBu-induced GH release consisted of an H7-resistant component only. When the regulatory domain of PKCs from different sources was investigated by displacement of [3H]PDBu binding, the affinity for mezerein was 3-5-fold greater than that for PDBu at PKCs from cerebral cortex, lung and alpha and beta isoforms extensively purified from brain. Anterior pituitary PKCs were unusual in showing closely matched affinity for mezerein and PDBu, reminiscent of their equivalent potency on GH release. In order to investigate the potency of the catalytic domain inhibitor H7 on PKCs from different sources, enzyme activity assays were carried out on partially purified cytosolic PKCs from midbrain and anterior pituitary and on extensively purified PKC alpha and PKC beta. The Ca(2+)-independent component of PDBu-induced (phosphatidylserine-dependent) activity from anterior pituitary alone showed unusually low potency of inhibition by H7 but was potently inhibited by staurosporine and Ro 31-8220. In contrast, the Ca(2+)-dependent PKC activity in anterior pituitary was inhibited by H7, staurosporine and Ro-31-8220 with high potency as in all other preparations. These results are consistent with the presence and active role in secretion of pharmacologically distinct forms of PKC (or PKC-like kinases) in rat anterior pituitary cells.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Involvement of protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase pathways in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced clustering of ovarian theca-interstitial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induces clustering of theca-interstitial cells (TIC) isolated from immature, hypophysectomized rats, while inhibiting luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated androstenedione in vitro. Stimulators of PKC, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG, 50 and 100 microM) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 50 nM), caused TIC clustering by 6 days in vitro. Clustering induced by these compounds resembled that induced by TNF. The protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine at 1 and 10 nM, impaired TNF-induced TIC clustering for 6 days, as did the protein kinase inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperizine dihydrochloride (H-7); conversely, the protein kinase inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride (0.1, 1.0 or 10 microM), did not attenuate TNF-directed clustering. The protein kinase inhibitors did not reverse the suppression of LH-stimulated androstenedione by TNF. Inhibitors of the EGF receptor PTK, A23 (10, 50, or 100 microM) and A46 (0.1, 1.0, 10, or 50 microM), impaired TNF-induced TIC clustering, while TNF suppression of LH-directed androstenedione was unaffected. EGF-induced TIC clustering was also impaired by A46, while A23 was less effective. Both A23 and A46 blocked EGF attenuation of LH-directed androstenedione after 4 days. When challenged with TNF (1 ng/ml) or PMA (50 nM), PKC activity increased in TIC. A23 (50 microM) and A46 (10 microM) each alone blocked the TNF-associated increase in PKC activity; however, PKC activity attributable to PMA was unaffected by A46. Together, these results suggest that TNF-induced TIC clustering involves activation of PTK which directs subsequent increases in PKC activity; however, mechanisms by which TNF inhibits LH-stimulated steroidogenesis remains elusive.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Induction of respiration-deficient mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by chelerythrine.

Chelerythrine and sanguinarine, two structurally related benzo/c/phenanthridine alkaloids, prevented growth of yeast cells in medium containing either glucose or non-fermentable carbon sources. At concentrations permitting growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, chelerythrine, but not sanquinarine, induced cytoplasmic respiration-deficient mutants. The petite clones that were analysed exhibited suppressiveness and contained different fragments of the wild-type mitochondrial genome.

Alkaloids↗