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Influence of morphometric factors on quantitation of paracellular permeability of intestinal epithelia in vitro.

PURPOSE: The relative contribution of the small and large intestine to paracellular absorption is a subject of some controversy. Direct comparison of paracellular permeability in different epithelia is complicated by variations in junctional density and/or the absorptive surface area. METHODS: This study used a combination of morphometric analyses and in vitro absorption studies to define permeability characteristics in relation to the amount of paracellular pathway present in rat ileum, colon and the model epithelium, Caco-2. RESULTS: Mucosal to serosal amplification was higher in ileum (3.9) than colon (1.9) or Caco-2 (1). Tight junctional density (lp) of ileal crypts was approximately 3 fold greater (91 m/cm2) than that measured in ileal villi, colonic surface and crypt cells or Caco-2 monolayers (34-37 m/cm2). However, when the relative contributions of the crypts and villi was taken into account there was no significant difference in the mean lp per mucosal area for the three epithelia studied. Using these data to correct for morphometric differences the permeabilities of a range of small hydrophilic molecules (atenolol, D-PheAsp and PEG oligomers MW 282-634) was measured. Permeability of rat ileum and colon were virtually identical for all compounds studied. In contrast, Caco-2 monolayers showed a significantly lower permeability than intestinal tissues with the difference increasing markedly with molecular size. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest the importance of accounting for morphological variation when comparing the permeability characteristics of different epithelial systems.

Animals↗

Improved corneal pilocarpine permeability with O,O'-(1,4-xylylene) bispilocarpic acid ester double prodrugs.

O,O'-(1,4-Xylylene) bispilocarpic acid esters are pilocarpine prodrugs containing two pilocarpic acid monoesters linked with one pro-moiety. Each mole of prodrug forms two pilocarpine moles in the presence of esterases. Corneal uptake and permeability of various bispilocarpic acid diesters were investigated in vitro using isolated albino rabbit corneas. The permeability coefficient of pilocarpine was 2.8 x 10(-6) cm/sec, whereas for bispilocarpic acid diesters, despite their large molecular weights (between 638 and 722), permeability coefficients were 6.5-20.2 x 10(-6) cm/sec. Only pilocarpine, and no intact prodrug, was observed at the endothelial side. Corneal uptake was increased with increasing lipophilicity, but a parabolic relationship between the logarithm of the apparent partition coefficient (1-octanol-pH 7.4 phosphate buffer) (log PC) and the corneal permeability was noticed. Corneal permeability and the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of the compounds correlated well. The corneal permeability of pilocarpine given as lipophilic bispilocarpic acid diester (log PC greater than or equal to 3) prodrugs seems to be controlled by the formation of pilocarpine in the corneal epithelium rather than by the absorption of prodrugs into the epithelium or their epithelium-stroma transport rate.

Animals↗

A method to predict the percutaneous permeability of various compounds: shed snake skin as a model membrane.

Penetration of various compounds through shed snake skin was measured in vitro to examine the effect of lipophilicity and molecular size of a compound on permeability through this model membrane. The permeabilities were found to be controlled by the lipophilicity and the molecular size of the permeant. The smaller and the more lipophilic the compound, the greater the permeability. Equations have been developed to predict the permeability from the molecular weight and the distribution coefficient of a compound. Further, the lipophilicity of shed snake skin is similar to that of human skin and the response of shed snake skin to the molecular size of a permeant is more similar to human skin than to hairless mouse skin. Considering the similarities between shed snake skin and human stratum corneum in terms of structure, composition, and permeability characteristics, the same considerations may apply to permeability through human stratum corneum.

Animals↗

Effects of structural modifications on the intestinal permeability of angiotensin II receptor antagonists and the correlation of in vitro, in situ, and in vivo absorption.

PURPOSE: The effects of structural modifications on the membrane permeability of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonists and the usefulness of in vitro and in situ intestinal absorption models in predicting in vivo absorption or bioavailability were investigated. METHODS: Intestinal permeability was determined in vitro using Caco-2 cell monolayers and in situ using a perfused rat intestine method. Several physicochemical parameters were either measured or computed, and correlated with intestinal permeation. RESULTS: Permeation coefficients (Pa) across Caco-2 cell monolayers correlated well with both in situ absorption rate constants (ka) and in vivo bioavailability or % absorption. For these Ang II antagonists, Pa values larger than 3 x 10(-6) cm sec-1 and in situ ka values of 2 x 10(-4) min-1 cm-1 or above were associated with good in vivo absorption. Structural modifications at the R5 position, where a COOH group was substituted with either a CHO or CH2OH group, enhanced the permeability of the Ang II receptor antagonists up to 100-fold. There were good correlations between permeability and log P(octanol/buffer), log PHPLC, charge, solvation/desolvation energy and assigned hydrogen bonding potential. CONCLUSIONS: The correlations obtained in this study indicate that both the Caco-2 cell model and the in situ perfused rat intestine could be used to predict intestinal absorption in vivo. Structural modifications of the Ang II antagonists had a significant impact on the intestinal permeability. Charge, solvation energy, and hydrogen bonding are predominant determinants of intestinal permeability and oral bioavailability of these compounds.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

Analysis of intestinal perfusion data for highly permeable drugs using a numerical aqueous resistance--nonlinear regression method.

PURPOSE: To develop, validate and apply a method for analyzing the intestinal perfusion data of highly permeable compounds using the Numerical Aqueous Resistance (NAR) theory and nonlinear regression (NAR-NLR) and to compare the results with the well-established Modified Boundary Layer (MBL) Analysis. METHODS: The NAR-NLR method was validated and the results were compared to the MBL analysis results using previously reported cephradine jejunal perfusion data. Using the Single Pass Intestinal Perfusion (SPIP) method, the concentration dependence of intestinal permeability was investigated for formycin B, proline, and thymidine, three compounds reported to be absorbed by carrier-mediated transport processes. The MBL and NAR-NLR analyses were then applied to the three sets of SPIP data. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that the intrinsic MBL transport parameters were highly variable and, in one case, the analyses failed to give a statistically significant Michaelis constant. The MBL mean dimensionless wall permeabilities (P*w) were greater than the NAR-NLR P*w and were also highly variable. In all cases, the NAR-NLR variability was significantly lower than the MBL variability. The extreme variability in the MBL-calculated P*w is due to the sensitivity of P*w when the fraction of unabsorbed drug (Cm/Co) is low or, alternatively, when P*w approached the aqueous permeability, P*aq. CONCLUSIONS: The NAR-NLR method facilitates the analysis of intestinal perfusion data for highly permeable compounds such as those absorbed by carrier-mediated processes at concentrations below their Km. The method also allows for the use of a wider range of flow conditions than the MBL analysis resulting in more reliable and less variable estimates of intestinal transport parameters as well as intestinal wall permeabilities.

Animals↗

Alveolar permeability enhancement by oleic acid and related fatty acids: evidence for a calcium-dependent mechanism.

Pulmonary exposure to oleic acid (OA) is associated with permeability alterations and cellular damage; however, the exact relationship between these two effects has not been clearly established. Using cultured alveolar epithelial monolayers, we demonstrated that OA and some other fatty acids (< or = 50 microM) can induce permeability changes without detectable cellular damage. At higher concentrations, however, OA caused severe membrane damage and leakage to solute flux. The permeability enhancing effect of OA was observed with both the paracellular marker 3H-mannitol and the lipophilic transcellular indicator 14C-progesterone. While the effect of OA on transcellular permeability may be attributed to its known effect on membrane fluidity, the paracellular promoting effect of OA and its mechanism are not well established. We postulated that OA may increase paracellular permeability through a Ca(2+)-dependent tight junction mechanism. Using dual-excitation fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated that OA can increase intracellular calcium, [Ca2+]i, in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was transient at low OA concentrations (< or = 50 microM) but became more pronounced and sustained at higher concentrations. Free hydroxyl and unsaturated groups were required for this activation since esterified OA (oleic methyl ester) and stearic acid (a saturated fatty acid with equal chain length) had much reduced effects on both the [Ca2+]i and the permeability alterations. Degree of unsaturation was unimportant since linolenic acid (18:3), linoleic acid (18:2), and OA (18:1) had similar and comparable effects on the two parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

A correlation between the permeability characteristics of a series of peptides using an in vitro cell culture model (Caco-2) and those using an in situ perfused rat ileum model of the intestinal mucosa.

In an attempt to establish an in vitro/in situ correlation of intestinal permeability data, the permeability coefficients (Papp) for a series of model peptides, which were determined using an in situ perfused rat ileum model, were compared to the permeability coefficients (Pmono) determined using an in vitro cell culture model (Caco-2). The model peptides, which were all blocked on the N-terminal (acetyl, Ac) and the C-terminal (amide, NH2) ends, consisted of D-phenylalanine (F) residues (e.g., AcFNH2, AcFFNH2, AcFFFNH2). To alter the degree of hydrogen bonding potential, the nitrogens of the amide bonds were sequentially methylated [e.g., AcFF(Me)FNH2, AcF(Me)F(Me)FNH2, Ac(Me)F(Me)FNH2, Ac(Me)F(Me)F(Me)]. These peptides were shown not to be metabolized in the in situ perfused rat ileum system. The results of the transport experiments showed that there were poor correlations between the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) determined in an in situ perfused rat ileum model and the octanol-water partition coefficients (r = 0.60) or the hydrogen bonding numbers (r = 0.63) of these peptides. However, good correlations were observed between the in situ Papp values for these peptides and their partition coefficients in heptane-ethylene glycol (r = 0.96) and the differences in their partition coefficients between octanol-water and isooctane-water (r = 0.86). These results suggest that lipophilicity may not be the major factor in determining the intestinal permeability of these peptides and that hydrogen bonding potential may be a major contributing factor. These results suggest that lipophilicity may not be the major factor in determining the intestinal permeability of these peptides and that hydrogen bonding potential may be a major contributing factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antiinflammatory drug-induced small intestinal permeability: the rat is a suitable model.

Excretion of orally administrated 51Cr-EDTA as a marker of small intestinal permeability (a proposed prerequisite for human enteropathy) is increased by corticosteroids and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We have investigated the suitability of the rat as an animal model of small intestinal permeability using orally administered 51Cr-EDTA. We dosed Sprague-Dawley rats with NSAIDs and corticosterone followed by 51Cr-EDTA under conditions reported for humans and measured urinary excretion of the marker. In control rats, the urinary excretion of 51Cr-EDTA exhibited a skewed-to-the-left frequency distribution curve with a median of 2.13% of the dose. No sex-related differences were noticed in the baseline permeability. In male rats, single therapeutically equivalent doses of indomethacin, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, sulindac, nambumetone, and corticosterone, increased the intestinal permeability by different extents with indomethacin eliciting the maximum effect, and the last four drugs showing minimal potencies. Therapeutically relevant doses of aspirin did not have any significant effect. The increase in permeability was dependent upon the NSAIDs dose. Administration of glucose/citrate, misoprostol and sulfasalazine significantly reduced the effect of indomethacin. Misoprostol antagonized the effect of naproxen but H2-antagonists and sucralfate did not. All the above observations made in the rat were similar to those previously reported for humans. Thus the rat is a suitable model for studies of small intestinal permeability.

Animals↗

Midazolam exhibits characteristics of a highly permeable P-glycoprotein substrate.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether midazolam exhibits characteristics of a highly permeable P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate and to evaluate the potential influence of P-gp inhibition on 1-OH midazolam formation during midazolam transport. METHODS: P-gp interaction was investigated by P-gp ATPase assay, efflux inhibition studies, and transport studies of midazolam across MDR1-MDCK and 1-alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3-induced Caco-2 monolayers with and without the P-gp inhibitor GF120918. RESULTS: Midazolam was highly permeable and transport appeared essentially unpolarized. In MDR1-MDCK, the basolateral-to-apical (B-to-A) permeability was slightly higher (16%) than apical-to-basolateral (A-to-B) permeability (p = 0.04); GF120918 increased A-to-B permeability by 27% (p = 0.01), and increased cellular midazolam accumulation during A-to-B transport by 45% (p = 0.01). Midazolam (200 microM) decreased rhodamine123 and vinblastine B/A ratios 3-fold (p < 0.006), while increasing their cellular accumulation (p < 0.003). P-gp ATPase activation by midazolam was dose-dependent and saturable [Km = 11.5(+/- 4.0) microM; Vmax = 41.1(+/- 7.4) nmol/mg/min]. P-gp inhibition increased 1-OH midazolam formation in A-to-B studies 1.3-fold when midazolam donor > or = 10 microM (p < 0.03). In B-to-A studies, P-gp inhibition did not significantly increase metabolite formation (p = 0.06). Midazolam's extraction ratio was not influenced by P-gp (p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that midazolam exhibited characteristics of a highly permeable P-gp substrate. 1-OH midazolam formation during A-to-B midazolam transport increased slightly when P-gp was inhibited.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Assessment of intestinal permeability and absorption in cirrhotic patients with ascites using combined sugar probes.

Gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis may contribute to complications such as malnutrition and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. To determine whether cirrhotic patients with ascites have altered intestinal function, we compared intestinal permeability and absorption in patients with liver disease and normal subjects. Intestinal permeability and absorption were investigated in 66 cirrhotic patients (48 with ascites, 18 without ascites) and 74 healthy control subjects. Timed recovery of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, D-xylose, L-rhamnose, and lactulose in urine following oral administration was measured in order to assess active and passive carrier-mediated, and nonmediated, absorptive capacity, as well as intestinal large-pore/small-pore (lactulose/rhamnose) permeability. Test sugars were measured by quantitative thin-layer chromatography and results are expressed as a percentage of test dose recovered in a 5-h urine collection. Sugar excretion ratios relating to small intestinal permeability (lactulose/rhamnose) and absorption (rhamnose/3-O-methyl-D-glucose) were calculated to avoid the effects of nonmucosal factors such as renal clearance, portal hypertension, and ascites on the recovery of sugar probes in urine. Compared with normal subjects, the mean lactulose/rhamnose permeability ratio in cirrhotic patients with ascites was significantly higher (0.058 vs. 0.037, P < 0.001) but not in cirrhotic patients without ascites (0.041 vs. 0.037). Cirrhotic patients with ascites had significantly lower mean recoveries of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (23.0 vs. 49.1%; P < 0.001), D-xylose (18.8 vs. 34.5%; P < 0.001), L-rhamnose (4.0 vs. 9.1%; P < 0.001), and lactulose (0.202 vs. 0.337%; P < 0.001) than normal subjects. However, the mean rhamnose/3-O-methyl-D-glucose ratio was the same in cirrhotic patients with ascites as normal subjects (0.189 vs. 0.189), indicating that the reduction in probe recovery was due to nonmucosal factors. Compared with normal subjects, cirrhotic patients with ascites have abnormal intestinal permeability, measured by urinary lactulose/rhamnose excretion, and normal small intestinal absorption, assessed by the urinary rhamnose/3-O-methyl-D-glucose ratio. Low urine recovery of sugar probes found in cirrhotic patients appears to be the result of nonintestinal factors affecting clearance rather than reduced intestinal absorption.

Analysis of Variance↗

Strategies toward predicting peptide cellular permeability from computed molecular descriptors.

The therapeutic efficacy of an orally administered drug is dictated not only by its pharmacological properties such as potency and selectivity, but also its pharmacokinetic properties such as its access to the site of activity. Thorough evaluation of the physicochemical and biological barriers to drug delivery is essential to the selection and successful development of drug candidates. We have demonstrated previously that cellular permeability, as a primary component of drug delivery, is principally dependent upon the desolvation potential of the polar functionalities in the molecule and, secondarily, upon the solute lipophilicity [Conradi, R.A., Hilgers, A.R., Ho, N.F.H., Burton, P.S. (1992). The influence of peptide structure on transport across Caco-2 cells. II. Peptide bond modification which results in improved permeability. Pharm. Res. 9, 473-479]. Increasingly sophisticated computational methods are becoming available for describing molecular structural features proposed to correlate with such molecular physicochemical determinants of permeability. Herein we examine the relationships of various computationally derived molecular geometric descriptors for a set of peptides and peptidomimetics, in the context of experimentally measured hydrogen-bond potentials and lipophilicities, with their cellular permeabilities. These descriptors include molecular volume, polar and non-polar surface areas and projected molecular cross-sectional areas. Particular attention is paid to the roles of solvation treatments and other computational factors in descriptor generation, deconvolution of cellular transport mechanisms and statistical analyses of the resulting data for the development of valid, structure-based and mechanistically meaningful models of cellular permeability. No significant correlation of cellular permeability with computed descriptors was found. This was primarily because of our inability to identify surrogates for hydrogen-bond desolvation potential for the solutes from among these descriptors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Basis for the permeability barrier abnormality in lamellar ichthyosis.

The basis for the permeability barrier abnormality in lamellar ichthyosis (LI) is not known. LI is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes the enzyme, transglutaminase 1 (TGI), which is responsible for assembly of the cornified envelope (CE). TG1 also has been suggested recently to catalyze the covalent attachment of omega-hydroxyceramides (omega-OHCer) to the CE, forming the corneocyte-lipid envelope (CLE). We first assessed the barrier function and the permeability pathway of the water-soluble tracer, colloidal lanthanum, across the stratum corneum (SC) in patients with LI with absent (n = 4) or low (n = 2) TG1 activity/protein. Increased movement of tracer through the SC correlated with increased transcutaneous water loss, and tracer remained restricted to the SC interstices. Enhanced extracellular permeability, in turn, was explicable by truncation and fragmentation of extracellular lamellar membrane arrays. The resultant clefts in the SC interstices represent the likely pathway for increased water permeability. Moreover, tracer movement remained restricted to the interstices, despite the demonstration of increased corneocyte fragility associated with widespread variations in CE structure. Regardless of variability in CE structure, however, CLE structure and bound omega-OHCer content were normal. The normal CLE in LI may explain both the restriction of tracer to the SC interstices, as well as the presence of foreshortened membrane arrays with near-normal interlamellar dimensions. Finally, the demonstration of a normal CLE in LI also raises questions about the putative role of TG1 in forming the CLE. These results demonstrate: (1) the extracellular nature of increased permeability in LI; (2) discontinuities in extracellular membrane structures that account for the enhanced permeability in LI; (3) that these membrane abnormalities are both associated with and explained by abnormalities in the subjacent CE scaffold; and (4) an intact CLE is present in LI, despite abnormalities in the CE, which may restrict water movement to the SC interstices in LI.

Adolescent↗

Highly enhanced permeability of blood-brain barrier induced by repeated administration of endothelin-1 in dogs and rats.

The effects of intracisternal administration of endothelin-1 on blood-brain barrier permeability were examined in dogs and rats. Single doses of endothelin-1 elevated blood-brain barrier permeability about two times compared with control groups in both species. However, repeated dosing with endothelin-1 at a 24 hr intervals caused a highly enhanced disruption of blood-brain barrier permeability in dogs, but not in rats, whereas the repeated administration with a 48 hr interval markedly increased the blood-brain barrier permeability in both species of animals (dogs: 923%, rats: more than 661%). Moreover, this abnormally enhanced permeability of blood-brain barrier in dogs was completely blocked by pretreatment with the endothelin ET-A receptor selective antagonist, S-0139, administered prior to either the first or second dosing with endothelin-1. From these results, we conclude that a repeated attack of endothelin-1 from the adventitial site of brain blood vessels produces a severe disruption of blood-brain barrier permeability through an endothelin ET-A receptor-mediated process.

Animals↗

Short-term exposure to alcohol increases the permeability of human oral mucosa.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term exposure to ethanol on the permeability barrier properties of human oral mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Permeability constants (Kp x 10(-4) cm min(-1)) to tritiated water were determined, for untreated human ventral tongue, and following treatment with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 5, 15 or 40% ethanol using an in vitro perfusion chamber system. Some samples were also exposed to fluorescent-labelled albumin and examined by fluorescence microscopy. Permeability barrier lipid composition was assessed in treated and untreated mucosa by heat separation, solvent extraction and thin layer chromatography. RESULTS: Fifteen per cent ethanol significantly increased mucosal permeability (5.8 +/- 0.44; P < 0.05) compared with untreated, PBS and 5% ethanol treated mucosa (4.69 +/- 0.26, 4.48 +/- 0.3 and 4.13 +/- 0.27, respectively). Albumin was restricted to the epithelial surface in control tissue, but extended further through the epithelium and, in some cases, into the connective tissue after treatment with ethanol. Biochemical analysis revealed no significant difference in the epithelial lipid composition of treated and untreated mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that short-term exposure to ethanol may act as a permeability enhancer, possibly by causing molecular rearrangement of the permeability barrier, not as a result of lipid extraction.

Adult↗

Platelet-activating factor increases mucosal permeability in rat intestine via tyrosine phosphorylation of E-cadherin.

1. Platelet-activating factor (PAF), an inflammatory mediator, plays an important role in mediating intestinal injury. However, it remains unclear whether PAF has a function in the intestine. The production of PAF by normal intestine and by unstimulated intestinal epithelial cell lines suggests that PAF may have a regulatory function in the normal bowel. 2. In this study we investigated the role of PAF in modulating intestinal mucosal permeability in rats. Lumen-to-blood transit of FD-4 (dextran 4400), (an index of intestinal permeability), was assessed in sham-operated rats and rats injected with PAF (1.25 microg kg(-1), i.v., a dose insufficient to induce intestinal injury). 3. PAF-induced villus cytoskeletal changes were examined by staining the intestine for F-actin. The effect of PAF on tyrosine phosphorylation of the junctional protein E-cadherin was examined by immunoprecipitation. Some rats were pretreated with AG1288 (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) before PAF injection, and mucosal permeability change was assessed. 4. To investigate the role of endogenous PAF upon mucosal permeability, we studied the effect of PAF antagonists on (intraluminal) glucose-induced increase in mucosal permeability. 5. We found that low dose PAF: (a) alters the cytoskeletal structure of intestinal epithelium, (b) causes the influx of FD4 from intestinal lumen to systemic circulation, (c) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of E-cadherin and cadherin-associated proteins. Glucose-induced mucosal permeability increase is abolished by using two structurally different PAF antagonists. 6. These results suggest that endogenous PAF modulates macromolecular movement across the intestinal mucosal barrier, probably via tyrosine phosphorylation of E-cadherin and cytoskeletal alteration of enterocytes.

Animals↗

Role of inflammatory mediators in lipid A analogue (ONO-4007)-induced vascular permeability change in mouse skin.

1. Endotoxin shock is accompanied by an increase in peripheral vascular permeability. It has been postulated that most biological activities of LPS are derived from lipid A moiety. Here we examined the effect of lipid A analogue ONO-4007 in increasing vascular permeability and the possible mediators in mouse skin by a dye leakage method. 2. Subcutaneous injection of ONO-4007 (1 - 2 mg site(-1)) induced a dose-dependent increase in vascular permeability which was evident after 120 min. 3. ONO-4007-induced dye leakage was significantly attenuated by pretreatments with anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and anti-interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) antibodies, but not with indomethacin (5 mg kg(-1)) or diphenhydramine (10 mg kg(-1)). ONO-4007-induced dye leakage was significantly inhibited by a pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 mg kg(-1)) but not with aminoguanidine (50 mg kg(-1)). In inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-deficient mice, ONO-4007 significantly increased the dye leakage, while ONO-4007 dilated rat thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine, and the L-NAME pretreatment inhibited the dilation. 4. Thus, TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha and constitutive NOSs-derived nitric oxide but not prostaglandins or histamine play a role in ONO-4007-induced increase in vascular permeability. Although ONO-4007 mimics LPS in increasing vascular permeability, mechanisms of permeability change elicited by ONO-4007 were not identical to those of LPS.

Animals↗

Effects of the chemokine CCL2 on blood-brain barrier permeability during ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The chemokine CCL2 is considered as one of the main effectors driving postischemic infiltration of monocytes into the brain parenchyma. New experimental data, however, suggest that CCL2 could also participate in blood-brain barrier (BBB) 'opening' during the transmigration of monocytes. The current study examines the role of CCL2 in regulating BBB permeability after ischemia in vitro. To address this issue, an in vitro BBB model (coculture of astrocytes and brain endothelial cells) was subjected to 5 h of oxygen glucose deprivation, followed by reoxgenation (in vitro ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)) for 0 to 48 h. During reperfusion, there was a biphasic enhancement of barrier permeability, with a 200-fold increase in barrier permeability to FITC-albumin at 6 h and a further period of disruption around 24 h. The latter coincided with increased secretion of CCL2 by both astrocytes and brain endothelial cells and increased levels of the CCL2 receptor, CCR2. Applying antisense oligonucleotide or neutralizing antibody to block CCL2 significantly decreased I/R-induced enhancement of BBB permeability (approximately twofold) and redistribution of tight-junction (TJ) proteins (occludin, zonula occluden-1, 2, claudin-5). Similarly, absence of CCR2 from endothelial cells caused stabilization of TJ complexes and decreased the permeability of brain endothelial barrier during in vitro I/R. These data suggest CCL2/CCR2 has an important role in regulating brain endothelial permeability and might be a potential novel therapeutic target for stroke.

Animals↗

Metabolic control of potassium permeability in pancreatic islet cells.

The K(+) permeability of pancreatic islet cells was studied by monitoring the efflux of (86)Rb(+) (used as tracer for K(+)) from perifused rat islets and measuring the uptake of (42)K(+). Glucose markedly and reversibly decreased (86)Rb(+) efflux from islet cells and this effect was antagonized by inhibitors of the metabolic degradation of the sugar, i.e. mannoheptulose, iodoacetate, glucosamine and 2-deoxyglucose. Among glucose metabolites, glyceraldehyde reduced the K(+) permeability even more potently than did glucose itself; pyruvate and lactate alone exhibited only a small effect, but potentiated that of glucose. Other metabolized sugars, like mannose, glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine, also decreased (86)Rb(+) efflux from islet cells. Fructose was effective only in the presence of glucose. Non-metabolized sugars like galactose, 2-deoxyglucose and 3-O-methylglucose had no effect. The changes in K(+) permeability by agents known to modify the concentrations of nicotinamide nucleotides, glutathione or ATP in islet cells were also studied. Increasing NAD(P)H concentrations in islet cells by pentobarbital rapidly and reversibly reduced (86)Rb(+) efflux; exogenous reduced glutathione produced a similar though weaker effect. By contrast, oxidizing nicotinamide nucleotides with phenazine methosulphate or Methylene Blue, or oxidizing glutathione by t-butyl hydroperoxide increased the K(+) permeability of islet cells. Uncoupling the oxidative phosphorylations with dicumarol also augmented (86)Rb(+) efflux markedly. In the absence of glucose, but not in its presence, methylxanthines reduced (86)Rb(+) efflux from the islets; such was not the case for cholera toxin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Glucose and glyceraldehyde had no effect on (42)K(+) uptake after a short incubation (10min), but augmented it after 60min; the effect of glucose was suppressed by mannoheptulose and not mimicked by 3-O-methylglucose. The results clearly establish the importance of the metabolic degradation of glucose and other substrates for the control of the K(+) permeability in pancreatic islet cells and support the concept that a decrease in the K(+) permeability represents a major step of the B-cell response to physiological stimulation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗