Studies on the mechanism of alteration by propranolol and mepacrine of the metabolism of phosphoinositides and other glycerolipids in the rabbit iris muscle

Repurposing quinacrine for treatment-refractory cancer

Quinacrine, also known as mepacrine, has originally been used as an antimalarial drug for close to a century, but was recently rediscovered as an anticancer agent. The mechanisms of anticancer effects of quinacrine are not well understood. The anticancer potential of quinacrine was discovered in a screen for small molecule activators of p53, and was specifically shown to inhibit NFκB suppression of p53. However, quinacrine can cause cell death in cells that lack p53 or have p53 mutations, which is a common occurrence in many malignant tumors including high grade serous ovarian cancer. Recent reports suggest quinacrine may inhibit cancer cell growth through multiple mechanisms including regulating autophagy, FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) chromatin trapping, and the DNA repair process. Additional reports also suggest quinacrine is effective against chemoresistant gynecologic cancer. In this review, we discuss anticancer effects of quinacrine and potential mechanisms of action with a specific focus on gynecologic and breast cancer where treatment-refractory tumors are associated with increased mortality rates. Repurposing quinacrine as an anticancer agent appears to be a promising strategy based on its ability to target multiple pathways, its selectivity against cancer cells, and the synergistic cytotoxicity when combined with other anticancer agents with limited side effects and good tolerability profile.

Beyond DNA binding - a review of the potential mechanisms mediating quinacrine's therapeutic activities in parasitic infections, inflammation, and cancers

This is an in-depth review of the history of quinacrine as well as its pharmacokinetic properties and established record of safety as an FDA-approved drug. The potential uses of quinacrine as an anti-cancer agent are discussed with particular attention to its actions on nuclear proteins, the arachidonic acid pathway, and multi-drug resistance, as well as its actions on signaling proteins in the cytoplasm. In particular, quinacrine's role on the NF-κB, p53, and AKT pathways are summarized.

New hopes from old drugs: revisiting DNA-binding small molecules as anticancer agents

Most of the anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs that are broadly and successfully used today are DNA-damaging agents. Targeting of DNA has been proven to cause relatively potent and selective destruction of tumor cells. However, the clinical potential of DNA-damaging agents is limited by the adverse side effects and increased risk of secondary cancers that are consequences of the agents' genotoxicity. In this review, we present evidence that those agents capable of targeting DNA without inducing DNA damage would not be limited in these ways, and may be as potent as DNA-damaging agents in the killing of tumor cells. We use as an example literature data and our own research of the well-known antimalarial drug quinacrine, which binds to DNA without inducing DNA damage, yet modulates a number of cellular pathways that impact tumor cell survival.

Differential properties of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and diacylglyceride lipase activities in retinal subcellular fractions and rod outer segments

1. The effect of magnesium and dl-propranolol on phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAPase) and diacylglycerol lipase (DGL) activities in isolated rod outer segments (ROS) and of the former on subcellular fractions from bovine retina was investigated. 2. Mg(2+)-independent PAPase activity was found in ROS, whereas in the other subcellular fractions PAPase activities both dependent on and independent of Mg2+ were detected. 3. The membrane-bound PAPase activity was stimulated at low concentrations of Mg2+ and inhibited at higher concentrations. The soluble activity was always stimulated by the ion. 4. dl-Propranolol (1000 microM) exerted a slight stimulatory effect on PAPase in ROS whereas total PAPase activity of microsomal fraction was not affected. 5. Mg2+ (0.2 mM) stimulated DGL activity (30%) whereas it was inhibited at higher concentration. 6. DGL lipase activities, both dependent on and independent of Mg2+, were detected in subcellular fractions of bovine retina. 7. DGL properties in ROS are also described.

A myo-inositol pool utilized for phosphatidylinositol synthesis is depleted in sciatic nerve from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Peripheral nerve from experimentally diabetic rats exhibits lowered levels of myo-inositol (MI) and decreased incorporation of [3H]MI into phosphatidylinositol (PI). There are indications that diminished PI turnover may be causally related to reduced Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in diabetic nerve. We have investigated whether a metabolic compartment of MI that is essential for PI synthesis is decreased in this tissue. Sciatic nerve segments from streptozotocin-induced diabetic and age-matched normal rats were incubated in vitro with either 32Pi or [3H]cytidine in the presence of propranolol. This cationic amphiphilic agent redirected nerve phospholipid metabolism to produce enhanced 32P incorporation into PI and decreased labeling of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. The accumulation of phosphatidyl CMP (CMP-PA) was also demonstrated by chromatographic and enzymatic means. The incorporation of [3H]cytidine into CMP-PA in normal nerve increased up to 15-fold when 0.6 mM propranolol was present. In diabetic nerve, the liponucleotide incorporated 2- to 3-fold more isotope and was more readily labeled at lower drug concentrations as compared to normal nerve. The buildup of [3H]CMP-PA was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of MI in the incubation medium at concentrations up to 3 mM. However, if MI was added after liponucleotide accumulation, preformed CMP-PA could not be utilized for PI synthesis. The difference in liponucleotide labeling between normal and diabetic nerve was nearly abolished at 0.3 mM medium MI, a concentration much less than the level of cyclitol in the tissue. These results strongly suggest the presence in nerve of a pool of MI that is not in equilibrium with the bulk of nerve MI and that is preferentially used for PI synthesis. This metabolic compartment is depleted in diabetic nerve but can be readily replenished by exogenous MI and may correspond to the MI pool that has been proposed to be required for the turnover of a portion of tissue PI involved in maintenance of normal Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity.

Interactions of thiophosphatidic acid with enzymes which metabolize phosphatidic acid. Inhibition of phosphatidic acid phosphatase and utilization by CDP-diacylglycerol synthase

Thiophosphatidic acid (1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorothioate; thioPA) was chemically synthesized from egg phosphatidylcholine-derived 1,2-diacylglycerol and PSCl3 and tested for its effects on enzymes which utilize phosphatidic acid (PA) in phospholipid biosynthesis. The compound was not a substrate for rat liver cytosolic PA phosphatase and strongly inhibited this enzyme activity. ThioPA was also a potent inhibitor of purified membrane-associated PA phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a competitive manner and exhibited an apparent Ki = 60 microM. In contrast, purified CDPdiacylglycerol synthase (PA:CTP cytidylyltransferase) from this organism was able to convert thioPA to CDP-diacylglycerol. The apparent Vmax for thioPA was 7-fold lower than that for PA, whereas the apparent Km for thioPA (70 microM) was 4-fold lower than that for PA. Calculation of the specificity constant (Vmax/Km) demonstrated that PA was the preferred substrate. These properties of thioPA indicate that this substance may prove useful in studies of phospholipid metabolism and function.

Effects of quinacrine on vasopressin-induced changes in glycogen phosphorylase activity, Ca2+ transport and phosphoinositide metabolism in isolated hepatocytes

In isolated hepatocytes, quinacrine (150-250 microM) inhibited vasopressin-induced increases in glucose release, glycogen phosphorylase a activity and 45Ca2+ efflux; and glucagon-induced increases in glucose release and cyclic AMP formation. These results indicate that a phospholipase A2 enzyme sensitive to quinacrine is unlikely to be involved in the process by which vasopressin stimulates glycogen phosphorylase activity in the liver cell. In cells labelled with [3H]inositol, much lower concentrations of quinacrine (20-50 microM) inhibited the stimulation by vasopressin of the accumulation of [3H]inositol. The drug had little effect on vasopressin-induced accumulation of [3H]inositol mono-, bis- and tris-phosphates. In the absence of vasopressin, higher concentrations of quinacrine caused a small stimulation of glycogen phosphorylase activity, 45Ca2+ release and the formation of [3H]inositol polyphosphates. Quinacrine did not inhibit the degradation by liver homogenates of inositol 1-phosphate, inositol 4,5-bisphosphate or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. It is concluded that concentrations of quinacrine comparable with those which inhibit phospholipase A2 [G.J. Blackwell, W.G. Duncombe, R.J. Flower, M.F. Parsons and J.R. Vane, Br. J. Pharmac. 59, 353-366 (1977)] inhibit the stimulation by vasopressin of inositol utilization without significantly affecting coupling between hormone receptors and adenyl cyclase or phosphoinositide-specific phosphodiesterase, the action of the phosphodiesterase, and the degradation of inositol triphosphate.

Agonist-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in choroid plexus

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis in choroid plexus by interacting with the 5-HTlc site. In the present study, the effects of 5-HT were compared with those of other agonists. 5-HT stimulates a rapid release of all three inositol sugars in a mianserin-sensitive manner. Inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate levels increase about twofold within 2.5 min, whereas inositol monophosphate levels are not appreciably elevated until 5 min. In contrast, glutamate, carbachol, histamine, substance P, and vasopressin, agents that increase phosphoinositide hydrolysis in other tissues, do not stimulate this response in choroid plexus. High concentrations of norepinephrine increase inositol phosphate release in choroid plexus, but this effect is apparently mediated by activation of the 5-HTlc site. The depolarizing agents KCl and veratrine also fail to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis in choroid plexus. These results, combined with the finding that the phosphoinositide response to 5-HT is insensitive to tetrodotoxin, suggest that the effects of 5-HT are not secondary to neurotransmitter release. Furthermore, an indirect effect mediated via arachidonic acid metabolism is unlikely, since inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase do not reduce the 5-HT response. We conclude, therefore, that phosphoinositide hydrolysis is the transducing mechanism of the 5-HT 5-HTlc receptor and that the choroid plexus will serve as a useful model system for studies of this receptor.

Inhibition of eicosanoid formation by prazosin in the rabbit renal cortex

The influence of the oral administration of prazosin (an alpha 1-adrenergic blocker) and propranolol (a beta-adrenergic blocker) on eicosanoid formation in renal cortices and papillae was evaluated in rabbits maintained on a high cholesterol diet. Rabbit renal microsomal fractions were incubated with radiolabeled arachidonic acid (AA) and glutathione (GSH) and the levels of metabolites were determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC), autoradiography and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Rabbits on a high cholesterol diet showed no significant differences in total eicosanoid production compared to rabbits on a normal diet. Prazosin was found to significantly inhibit the formation of all eicosanoids in the renal cortex. In contrast, propranolol had no such inhibitory effect in the renal cortex. Neither drug had a significant effect on eicosanoid formation in the renal papilla. While oral administration of prazosin effectively inhibited the formation of all eicosanoids in the cortex, the addition of prazosin in vitro at physiological concentrations showed no such effect. These findings may have reflected alpha-receptor mediated event(s) which resulted in an alteration in eicosanoid formation in the kidney, suggesting an interaction between the sympathetic nervous system and the AA cascade.

Relationship between the displacement of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the membrane-associated compartment by chlorpromazine and the inhibition of the synthesis of triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine in rat hepatocytes

Glycerolipid synthesis was studied in isolated hepatocytes by using 177 microM [14C]oleate and 1 mM [3H]glycerol. Chlorpromazine (25-400 microM) inhibited the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol. This was accompanied by an average increase of 12-fold in the accumulation of the labelled precursors in phosphatidate at 200 microM chlorpromazine and a decrease in the conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol of 76%. These results indicate that part of the inhibition of the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol occurs at the level of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. The relative rate of triacylglycerol synthesis at different concentrations of chlorpromazine was approximately proportional to the rate of conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol. Phosphatidylcholine synthesis increased at higher rates of conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol, but it was relatively independent of the latter rate when this was inhibited by more than about 30% with chlorpromazine. The addition of oleate to the hepatocytes caused a translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosol to the membrane-associated compartment. Chlorpromazine had the opposite effect and displaced the phosphohydrolase from the membranes in the presence or absence of oleate. There was a highly significant correlation between the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase that was associated with the membranes of the hepatocytes and the calculated conversion of [3H]phosphatidate to diacylglycerol. Chlorpromazine also antagonized the association of the phosphohydrolase with microsomal membranes when cell-free preparations were incubated with combinations of oleate and spermine. Furthermore, it inhibited the transfer of the soluble phosphohydrolase to microsomal membranes that were labelled with [14C]phosphatidate and thereby decreased diacylglycerol production. It is concluded that part of the action of chlorpromazine in inhibiting the synthesis of triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine occurs because it prevents the interaction of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase with the membranes on which glycerolipid synthesis occurs. This in turn prevents the conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol.

Surgical sympathetic denervation increases alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated accumulation of myo-inositol trisphosphate and muscle contraction in rabbit iris dilator smooth muscle

Sympathetic denervation of the iris muscle produces increases in both the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and in muscle contraction in response to norepinephrine (NE). To shed more light on the biochemical basis underlying this supersensitivity we investigated: the effects of NE on PIP2 breakdown, measured as myo-inositol trisphosphate (IP3) accumulation, and on muscle contraction in normal and denervated rabbit iris dilator; and the effects of denervation on selected biochemical properties of this muscle. The data obtained from these studies can be summarized as follows: The EC50 values (microM) for NE-induced IP3 accumulation in normal and denervated dilators were 14 and 3, respectively. This accumulation of IP3 was blocked by prazosin (1 microM). The EC50 values (microM) for NE-induced contraction for the normal and denervated muscles were 10 and 0.6, respectively. The NE-induced muscle contraction was blocked by prazosin (1 microM). The t1/2 values (s) for IP3 accumulation in normal and denervated muscles were 31 and 11, respectively, and for contraction the values were 19 and 9, respectively. Denervation increased significantly (15-18%) the basal labelling of phosphoinositides from myo-[3H]inositol, but not from 32P or [14C]arachidonic acid. Denervation had little effect on the activities of the enzymes involved in phosphoinositide metabolism. However, the activities of protein kinase C and Ca2+-ATPase increased in the denervated muscle. It is concluded that sympathetic denervation of the iris dilator renders the coupling between alpha1 receptors and PIP2 breakdown into IP3 and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) more efficient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cationic amphiphilic drugs inhibit the synthesis of long-chain fatty acyl coenzyme A in rat brain microsomes

The effect of cationic amphiphilic drugs (CAD) on the synthesis of thiol esters of coenzyme A with long-chain fatty acids was studied in microsomes of rat brain in vitro. The results indicate that propranolol, tetracaine and to a lesser extent, chloroquine, inhibit enzyme activity. Procaine and lidocaine did not inhibit enzyme activity in concentrations up to 0.8 mM. This inhibition seems to be directed primarily to the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acyl coenzyme A. The results also suggest that this inhibition may be due to the action of CAD on the microsomal membrane and not to an interaction of these drugs with the fatty acid substrates.

Effects of (1,6-di(O-carbamoyl)cyclohexanone oxime)hexane (RHC 80267) on prostaglandin biosynthesis and accumulation of diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid in rabbit iris

The effects of RHC 80267, (1-6-di(O-carbamoyl)cyclohexanone oxime)hexane, a diacylglycerol (DG) lipase inhibitor, on the DG lipase pathway and on arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism were investigated in the iris muscle. Incubation of the iris for 30 min at 37 degrees resulted in a loss of AA from phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine of 40, 25, and 32% respectively. It was found that the drug inhibited the activity of DG lipase in the iris microsomal fraction and it increased the accumulation of DG, AA and other glycerolipids in iris muscle prelabeled with [14C]AA, presumably by inhibiting this enzyme. Under the same experimental conditions, the drug increased the accumulation of DG and AA in the tissue in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and it inhibited the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGF2 alpha by iris and iris microsomes in a dose-dependent manner. The data presented indicate that RHC 80267 has nonspecific effects on glycerolipid and AA metabolism in this tissue. We conclude that, while the drug does inhibit DG lipase in the intact iris, the present findings that it increased the accumulation of glycerolipids and AA and that it inhibited the biosynthesis of PGs in this tissue throw some doubt on its use in studies on the mechanism of AA release from membrane phosphoinositides for PG synthesis.

Cellular mechanisms in the actions of antiglaucoma drugs

There are several classes of drugs currently in use for the therapeutic management of the glaucomas. Although the ocular hypotensive effects of these agents have been well characterized and described, little is known of their site of action and cellular mechanism. This review attempts to describe those cellular mechanisms that may be linked to the actions of several classes of antiglaucoma drugs. Special emphasis was placed on drug actions and 1) the adenylate cyclase system; 2) receptor-coupled phosphoinositide turnover; 3) prostaglandins and 4) ion transport processes. Models are presented depicting proposed cellular sites of the interaction of the antiglaucoma drugs with these cellular processes.

Effects of antiglaucoma drugs on [32P]orthophosphate incorporation into phospholipids of cat iris and ciliary process

The effects of antiglaucoma drugs on [32P]-orthophosphate incorporation into phospholipids of iris and ciliary process were investigated. Both iris and ciliary process rapidly incorporated 32Pi into the major phospholipids, with the acidic phosphoinositides demonstrating a greater labelling than phosphatidylcholine, indicating a greater turnover. The muscarinic agonists, carbachol and pilocarpine, stimulated 32Pi-labelling of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid (PA) in both iris and ciliary process. These effects were blocked by atropine, suggesting that the response was mediated through muscarinic receptors. The beta blocking ocular hypotensive drugs, propranolol, timolol and atenolol, produced varying effects on 32P incorporation into phospholipids of iris and ciliary process. Propranolol stimulated 32Pi-labelling into phosphatidylinositol 4', 5' bisphosphate (PIP2), phosphatidylinositol 4' phosphate (PIP), PI and PA. Timolol decreased 32Pi-incorporation into PIP2 and PI, whereas atenolol, a selective beta 1 antagonist, had no significant effect on 32Pi-labelling of phospholipids. The above findings on propranolol agree with previous observations which demonstrated that propranolol redirects glycerolipid metabolism through multiple effects on the enzymes in phospholipid biosynthesis, particularly in stimulating phosphatidylinositol kinases. The results with timolol suggest that this drug may decrease phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The effects of these ocular hypotensive, non-selective beta blocking drugs on phospholipid turnover may ultimately limit the accumulation of breakdown products which could serve as cellular messengers.