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A fraction from the ethanol extract of the Peruvian medicinal plant Mauria heterophylla (Anacardiaceae) showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli 35992, Staphylococcus aureus 20213 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15442. Further fractionation led to the isolation and characterization of ethyl gallate as the antibacterial active compound.
Hydroxyurea (HU) is a potent teratogen which caused 100% embryotoxic effects in New Zealand white rabbits when injected sc on gestational day 12. These included a high percentage of resorptions and severe craniofacial, trunk and limb deformities of all survivors. Co-treatment of pregnant animals with the phenolic antioxidant propyl gallate (PG) resulted in amelioration of the embryotoxicity. Various amounts of PG (362-906 mg/kg) and HU (600-750 mg/kg) were eigher injected simultaneously or mixed together for periods of time up to 45 min. The extent of amelioration was dependent upon the amount of PG, although the highest dose of PG caused maternal toxicity. Simultaneous injections of HU and PG were not as efficacious as mixture of the two chemicals prior to injection. The length of time which the HU and PG mixture was allowed to stand prior to injection had no effect on the extent of amelioration. The protective action of PG resulted in significant linear reductions in both resorptions and specific malformations with increasing doses of PG. Histologic analysis of HU and HU-PG embryos disclosed that HU produced rapid cell death in the mesenchymal compartment of the embryo, particularly in the limb-buds, beginning at 2 h after treatment. Cell debris increased in amount until 8 h and remained extensive at 16 h. In contrast, HU-PG delayed the onset for cell death until 8 h. Nevertheless, at 16 h, the amount of cell debris in the limb-buds was appreciable. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of HU-PG solution revealed no breakdown products or intermediate compounds suggesting that HU and PG do not react chemically. The presence of HU within both HU and HU-PG treated embryos was confirmed by TLC of embryonic sonicants. In contrast, TLC of embryonic extracts revealed PG only in HU-PG embryos. Light microscopy of other embryos from those same litters demonstrated extensive cell debris in the HU embryos but not in HU-PG embryos. It is suggested that the delay in onset of HU cytotoxicity is caused by the antioxidant properties of PG acting within the embryos, and that this may account for the amelioration of HU teratogenesis by PG.
The effect of lauryl gallate (antioxidant E-312) has been studied on the mouse B-cell lymphoma line Wehi 231. This compound is able to inhibit protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) in whole cells and in crude extracts with a better efficiency than other well-known PTK inhibitors such as herbimycin or genistein. Initial events triggered upon the incubation of cells with lauryl gallate in phosphate-buffered saline (up to 1 h) include the inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation, discharge of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and induction of mRNA for Bcl-2. Long-term cultures in complete medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (up to 24 h) in the presence of this compound exhibit clear apoptotic features such as increase in phosphatidylserine in the cell surface, decrease in the functionality of mitochondria, cytochrome c release to the cytosol, activation of caspases, hypodiploidy, and oligonucleosomal breakdown of DNA. Comparison between Wehi cells overexpressing Bcl-2 (Wehi-bcl-2) with Wehi-neo cells shows a delay in the manifestations of the apoptotic signs, indicating that Bcl-2 has a partial protective effect on the apoptosis induced by lauryl gallate. The proapoptotic effect of lauryl gallate is not dependent on DNA or protein synthesis, is not blocked by the chelation of calcium, and is not reverted by N-acetylcysteine.
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We described here that pentoxifylline (PTX), which is well known to counteract tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha)-mediated inflammatory responses, augmented TNF alpha-induced neuroblastoma cell differentiation in conjunction with growth inhibition and cell-cycle arrest in G1 phase. PTX also enhanced TNF alpha-induced down-regulation of acetylcholine-mediated [Ca2+]i mobilization in neuroblastoma cells. Furthermore, we found that addition of cAMP failed to induce neuroblastoma cell differentiation, whereas blockade of [Ca2+]i mobilization by 8-(N,N-diethyl-amino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate HCl (TMB-8, 10 microM) did induce neuroblastoma cell differentiation. Taken together, these results indicated that PTX possessed a novel signal transduction, down-regulation of [Ca2+]i mobilization, to augment but not counteract TNF alpha-mediated functions.
Water and methanol extracts of Rosa damascena exhibited moderate anti-HIV activity. The anti-viral activities of 9 compounds isolated from the methanol extract were compared. The tetrahydroxyflavanone (kaempferol, 1), was effective in reducing the maturation of infectious progeny virus apparently due to selective inhibition of the viral protease. On the other hand the pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin, 2) and two 3-substituted derivatives of kaempferol appeared to inhibit HIV-infection by preventing binding of gp120 to CD4. 2-Phenylethanol-O-(6-O-galloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside 8 interacted irreversibly with gp120 and neutralized virus infectivity. The differences in the modes of action of 1 and 8 can account for the apparent synergy of their anti-viral activities.
To evaluate the role of aquaporin5 (AQP5) in salivary secretion induced by cholinergic stimulation, the alteration of the distribution of AQP5 in rat parotid tissues induced by acetylcholine (ACh) was studied by immunobolt analysis. The treatment of the tissues with ACh within 1 min induced the translocation of AQP5 from intracellular membranes (ICM) to apical membranes (APM), but that for more than 5 min resulted in the converse translocation from APM to ICM. The ACh-induced increase in the amount of AQP5 in APM was inhibited by atropine, p-F-HHSiD and TMB-8, but not by methoctramine, staurosporine or H-7. The calcium ionophore A-23187 alone stimulated the translocation of AQP5 between APM and ICM. These results indicated that ACh acted on M3 muscarinic receptors and induced the translocation of AQP5 between ICM and APM, and that the cytosolic Ca2+ elevation by ACh may play a key role in this translocation in rat parotid glands.
Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl(-) channels, induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Glibenclamide increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, which was significantly inhibited by Ca(2+) release blockers dantrolene and TMB-8. BAPTA/AM, an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator, and the Ca(2+) release blockers significantly inhibited glibenclamide-induced apoptosis. Glibanclamide also increased intracellular Cl(-) concentration, which was significantly blocked by CFTR Cl(-) channel activators levamisole and bromotetramisole. These activators also significantly inhibited both intracellular Ca(2+) release and apoptosis induced by glibenclamide. The expression of CFTR protein in the cells was confirmed by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that glibenclamide induced apoptosis through inhibition of CFTR Cl(-) channels and intracellular Ca(2+) release and that this protein may be a good target for treatment of human hepatomas.
The differentiation-inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) is a putative morphogen that induces stalk-cell formation in the lower eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum. This molecule has been shown to inhibit cell growth and induce erythroid differentiation in human leukemia K562 cells. In the present study, to clarify the mechanism of the actions of DIF-1, we examined the effect of DIF-1 on Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) in K562 cells. Akt/PKB is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell survival and differentiation in a variety of cells. A nonphosphorylated (inactive) form of Akt/PKB was ordinarily expressed in K562 cells. However, Akt/PKB was phosphorylated and potently activated within several hours of incubation with 5-30 microM DIF-1, and this activation was inhibited by wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). Calcium-increasing agents thapsigargin and A23187 also activated Akt/PKB slightly, which was inhibited by wortmannin. By contrast, calcium-reducing agents TMB-8 and EGTA together with A23187 inhibited the DIF-1-induced activation of Akt/PKB. PMA (PKC activator) also activated Akt/PKB but this activation was not inhibited by wortmannin. DIF-1 exhibited no marked effect on the activation of PKCalpha, beta, and gamma, which were activated by PMA. These results indicate that DIF-1 activates Akt/PKB possibly via cytosolic calcium and subsequent activation of PI3-kinase and also that PMA activates Akt/PKB in a PI3-kinase-independent manner.
To test the hypothesis that motilin receptors are present on smooth muscle cells of the human gallbladder, smooth muscle cells were isolated from the gallbladder and their direct contractile responses to motilin were examined. Motilin elicited a dose-dependent contraction of human gallbladder smooth muscle cells. Maximal contraction rate as defined by the percentage decrease in cell length was 23.7 +/- 0.7% at 10(-7) M for motilin and was similar to that for cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP) (24.2 +/- 1.5%) observed at 10(-10) M. The contractile sensitivity of gallbladder muscle cells to motilin (ED50 = 6 pM) was two orders of magnitude less than that to CCK-OP (ED50 = 0.07 pM). The motilin-induced contraction was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by addition of 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride, an inhibitor of intracellular Ca2+ release. These results indicate that distinct motilin receptors are likely to be present on human gallbladder smooth muscle cells, as evidenced by their direct contractile responses, and suggest that Ca2+ release from intracellular calcium stores is important in the contractile response to motilin.
To define the mechanisms by which Helicobacter pylori stimulates pepsinogen secretion, the in vitro release of pepsinogen was studied using a preparation of pig chief cell monolayers. Helicobacter pylori induced a time- and concentration-dependent release of pepsinogen into the medium, with about a three-fold increase in pepsinogen secretion over controls found after 45 min of incubation. 3x10(7) H. pylori produced 50% of the maximal response found at a H. pylori count of 2x10(8). The action of H. pylori did not depend on the presence of the vacuolating toxin (vacA) and the cytotoxin-associated protein (cagA). Dibutyryl-cAMP and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate also markedly stimulated pepsinogen secretion and enhanced the stimulatory effect of H. pylori. Helicobacter pylori-stimulated pepsinogen release was inhibited by lanthanum and the calmodulin antagonist W-7, but not by the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine, TMB-8, an agent that blocks the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine and the protein kinase A inhibitor H-8. It is suggested that H. pylori directly stimulates pepsinogen release from gastric chief cells and that this effect is mediated via the calcium/calmodulin messenger branch.
This study characterized the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in NaCN-treated human A-431 cells. The resting [Ca2+]i was 85 +/- 8 nM (n = 141) in untreated cells at 37 degrees C, determined with the fura-2 fluorescence probe. When cells were treated with NaCN, [Ca2+]i increased in a time- and NaCN concentration-dependent manner. When cells were exposed to 10 mM NaCN for 10 min, [Ca2+]i increased 278 +/- 28% (n = 5) but returned to normal within 45 min after treatment. The [Ca2+]i increase depended on the presence of external Ca2+. La3+ and Cd2+, but not verapamil or nifedipine, inhibited the NaCN-induced [Ca2+]i increase. The NaCN-induced [Ca2+]i increase also depended on external Na+ (K1/2 = 85 mM). The intracellular Na+ concentration, measured with the fluorescence probe SBFI, increased 267 +/- 16% after NaCN treatment. The NaCN-induced [Ca2+]i increase was modulated by treatment with ouabain or veratridine and was completely blocked by tetrodotoxin, amiloride (K1/2 = 5.4 microM), and dichlorobenzamil (K1/2 = 0.28 microM). These results suggest NaCN activates the Na+/Ca2+ exchange system. TMB-8 and ryanodine both partially blocked the increase in [Ca2+]i in the presence of external Ca2+, indicating that Ca2+ release from intracellular pools also occurred after the initial Ca2+ influx. NaCN decreased inositol trisphosphates production. U-73122, bradykinin, or monensin did not prevent the NaCN-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. However, the magnitude of the [Ca2+]i increase caused by NaCN was abolished in ionomycin-treated the [Ca2+]i increase caused by NaCN was abolished in ionomycin-treated cells, indicating that intracellular Ca2+ release induced by NaCN is derived from an ionomycin-sensitive Ca2+ pool. The results suggest that NaCN initially increased Na+ influx, which activated the reverse mode of a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, leading to an increase in Ca2+ influx. The Ca2+ influx induced a Ca2+ mobilization from only an ionomycin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pool containing ryanodine receptors.
2,2',4,4'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB), a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), alters neutrophil functions in vitro by unknown mechanisms. The role of calcium in mediating PCB stimulation of neutrophil function was investigated. Peritoneal neutrophils were isolated from retired breeder, male, Sprague-Dawley rats. Neutrophils were incubated with 10 micrograms/ml 2,2',4,4'-TCB prior to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and superoxide anion (O2-) production was measured. 2,2',4,4'-TCB alone elicited O2- production and potentiated the response to PMA. When neutrophils were incubated in calcium-free medium, the ability of TCB to stimulate O2- production and to potentiate the response to PMA was abolished. The absence of extracellular calcium did not alter the response to PMA alone. TMB-8, an antagonist of the mobilization of intracellular calcium, inhibited O2- production in response to 2,2',4,4'-TCB stimulation but not to PMA. Degranulation of neutrophils, measured by release of myeloperoxidase, occurred upon exposure to 10 micrograms/ml 2,2',4,4'-TCB alone. This response was increased by cotreatment with the calcium ionophore A23187. 2,3,4,5-TCB, a mono-ortho-substituted PCB congener, potentiated O2- production in response to PMA stimulation by a mechanism that was partly dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. This congener also stimulated neutrophils to release myeloperoxidase. 3,3',4,4'-TCB, a coplanar congener with high affinity for the Ah receptor, did not elicit neutrophil degranulation. These results indicate that TCBs affect neutrophil function in vitro through signal transduction pathways that appear to be calcium dependent.
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The relationship between the intracellular translocation of calcium from the storage pool and the oxidative metabolism was studied. An intracellular calcium-antagonist, TMB-8, inhibited the release of superoxide induced by a calcium ionophore A23187 and the inhibition was relieved by the addition of calcium ions. The release induced by cytochalasin D or by the ingestion of bacteria was similarly inhibited by TMB-8. The mobilization of intracellular divalent cations of leukocytes was monitored by a fluorescent probe, CTC. When the CTC-loaded cells were stimulated with cytochalasin D or E. coli, a fluorescence change ascribable to the release of calcium from the intracellular hydrophobic environment was observed. The dose-response curve of the fluorescence change and that of the superoxide release of th cells were very similar. TMB-8 inhibited both metabolic and fluorescence changes in parallel. The results support the hypothesis that an intracellular translocation of calcium is stimulated the oxidative metabolism of leukocytes.
Contractions were induced in rings of rabbit pulmonary artery with the preferential alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists, phenylephrine, methoxamine and St 587 [2-(2-chloro-trifluoromethyl-phenylimino)imidazolidine and the preferential alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine and B-HT 920 [6-allyl-2-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo-(4,5-d) azepine] [corrected]. Phenylephrine and methoxamine acted as full agonists whereas St 587, clonidine and B-HT 920 were partial agonists (intrinsic activities 0.62, 0.38 and 0.42, respectively). Experiments with alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists indicated that the receptors involved are of the alpha 1 type only. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited maximal contractions to phenylephrine and methoxamine by 30% and 49%, respectively. The remaining contraction components of the full agonists were abolished by the "intracellular Ca2+ antagonist" TMB-8 [8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate]. Contractions to St 587, clonidine and B-HT 920 were virtually abolished in Ca2+-free medium. Pretreatment of the donor rabbits with pertussis toxin (2.5 micrograms/kg i.v., 5-6 days before sacrifice) attenuated the efficacies of the full agonists, phenylephrine and methoxamine by only 24% and 17%, respectively, whereas maximal contractions to the partial agonists, St 587, clonidine and B-HT 920, were inhibited by 46%, 61% and 75%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) is a widely used pharmacological tool to investigate the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ stores in cellular responses. In this study we investigate the effect of TMB-8 as a putative inhibitor of "Ca2+ signalling" in single fura-2 loaded HT29 colonic epithelial cells stimulated by ATP, carbachol (CCH) and neurotensin (NT). TMB-8 effectively inhibited the CCH-induced (100 mumol/l intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) transient with an IC50 of 20 mumol/l. However, [Ca2+]i transients induced by other phospholipase C coupled agonists ATP (10 mumol/l, n = 4) and NT (10 nmol/l, n = 4) remained unaffected by TMB-8 (50 mumol/l). The agonist-induced [Ca2+]i transients remained equally unaffected by 100 mumol/l TMB-8 when the stimulatory concentration was reduced to 0.5 mumol/l for ATP (n = 4) or 1 nmol/l for NT (n = 4). The competitive nature of the TMB-8-induced inhibition of the CCH-induced [Ca2+]i transient was demonstrated by examining the agonist at various concentrations in absence and presence of the antagonist. High TMB-8 concentrations (100 mumol/l) alone induced a small [Ca2+]i increase (delta[Ca2+]i: 40 +/- 5 nmol/l, n = 7). We assume that this increase is a consequence of a TMB-8 induced intracellular alkalinization (delta pH: 0.1 +/- 0.02, n = 7) occurring simultaneously with the increase in [Ca2+]i. From these results we draw the following conclusions: (1) In sharp contrast to a large number of other studies, but in agreement with studies in other types of cells, these results substantially challenge the value of the "tool" TMB-8 as an "intracellular Ca2+ antagonist"; (2) TMB-8 acts a muscarinic receptor antagonist at the M3 receptor; (3) TMB-8 does not influence the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores when IP3 signal transduction is activated by ATP or NT; (4) TMB-8 as a weak organic base alkalinizes the cytosol at high concentrations; and (5) TMB-8 induces small [Ca2+]i transients at higher concentrations.