Substance P induced hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids in rat skin in an in vivo model of inflammation

Mechanisms underlying the vascular activity of beta-amyloid protein fragment (beta A(4)25-35) at the level of skin microvasculature

Deposition of beta-amyloid protein (beta A4) in extracellular senile plaques is a pathologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neurotoxic effect of beta A4 has been ascribed to a discrete 11-amino acid internal sequence (beta A(4)25-35). Substance P (SP) has been found to be depleted in the brain of AD patients while its presence was found to protect against the neurodegenerative effect of beta A(4)25-35. Our previous studies, in vivo, in aged rats showed that beta A(4)25-35 exhibits a potent vasoconstrictor (VC) effect in rat skin microvasculature and can prevent SP but not calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from inducing a vasodilator (VD) response. It was postulated that beta A(4)25-35 might be interacting with SP at the level of the second messenger system via the phosphoinositide pathway. Using a blister model of inflammation in the rat hind footpad, we examined the ability of beta A(4)25-35 to modulate the vascular activity of bradykinin (BK) and serotonin (5-HT) which also activate the phosphoinositide pathway. In addition, the role of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET, an endothelium-derived constrictor factor) and protein kinase C (PKC) in the vascular effects of beta A(4)25-35 were examined using the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), the ET-receptor antagonist, BQ-123, and the PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide (BIM) respectively. Changes in microvascular blood flow were monitored using laser Doppler flowmetry and the area within the response curve measured. The results showed that beta A(4)25-35 (10 microM) induced a VC effect and inhibited the subsequent VD response to BK (10 microM) and 5-HT (1 microM) in a similar fashion to its effect on SP (1 microM). In the presence of L-NOARG (100 microM), the VD effect of SP was reduced and further attenuated after perfusion of beta A(4)25-35. Superfusion of the blister base with BQ-123 (10 microM) or BIM (1 microM) prior to and during perfusion with beta A(4)25-35 abolished its VC effect and allowed SP to induce a normal VD response in both young and old rats. Based on these results, we suggest that the vascular activity of the active fragment, beta A(4)25-35, is mediated by ET via activation of PKC. This study provides new findings which may help to elucidate the signal transduction mechanisms involved in the vascular activity of beta A(4)25-35. The relevance of these mechanisms to those underlying the pathological effects of beta A4 and their significance in AD remains to be determined.

Further studies on the mechanism of action of substance P in rat brain, involving selective phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis

We have suggested that substance P, in cerebral cortex, causes a phosphatidylinositol (PI) breakdown by a dual mechanism suggesting the involvement of either phospholipase A2 or phospholipase C. We have presently characterized further these effects. Substance P (65 pM) provoked an increase in lysoPI concomitant with a decrease in PI level. This finding confirms the involvement of phospholipase A2 activation. To study the involvement of phospholipase C in the action of higher doses (0.65 microM) of the peptide, we used pulse-chase experiments (where phospholipid depletion was monitored) and short-term 32P-labeled slices (where phospholipid synthesis was studied). Substance P evoked an acceleration of both hydrolysis and resynthesis of PI as early as 15 s. A prolonged exposure (30 min) resulted in stimulation of PI hydrolysis without subsequent resynthesis. The peptide did not cause any effect on inositol 1,4-bisphosphate and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. These alterations in PI metabolism take place simultaneously with a generation of diacylglycerol which showed two maxima at both indicated times.

Role of nitric oxide in the actions of substance P and other mediators of inflammation in rat skin microvasculature

The role of nitric oxide in inflammatory responses to substance P and other mediators of inflammation was examined in rat skin microvasculature in a blister base raised on the hind footpad. Superfusion of substance P (1 microM) over the blister base caused an increase in plasma extravasation and a vasodilator response which was not maintained. N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine (100 microM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide biosynthesis, attenuated vasodilatation and plasma extravasation due to substance P. The inactive isomer N(G)-nitro-D-arginine was without effect. Neurokinin A (1 microM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (1 microM), ATP (50 microM) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (1 microM) elicited vasodilation, which for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was maintained even after washout. 5-Hydroxytryptamine and neurokinin A, but not ATP or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, significantly increased plasma extravasation. Vasodilatation to neurokinin A, 5-hydroxytryptamine and ATP, and the increase in plasma extravasation due to neurokinin A and 5-hydroxytryptamine were unaffected by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (100 microM), whereas vasodilation due to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was significantly attenuated. These findings suggest that in rat skin microvasculature in vivo, nitric oxide is involved in vasodilator responses due to substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and plasma extravasation due to substance P, but does not contribute significantly to vasodilatation induced by neurokinin A, 5-hydroxytryptamine or ATP, or the plasma extravasation induced by neurokinin A or 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Beta A4(25-35) modulates substance P effect on rat skin microvasculature in aged rats: pharmacological manipulation using SEC-receptor ligands

The primary constituent of the senile plaque core in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the beta-amyloid protein (beta A4). A discrete 11 amino acid fragment of the beta A4, beta A4(25-35), has been implicated in mediating in vitro neurotoxicity and an inflammatory response surrounding senile plaques in AD via interaction with the Serpin Enzyme Complex (SEC) receptor. Substance P (SP), a neuropeptide of the tachykinin family and a major mediator of neurogenic inflammation, shows sequence homology to beta A4(25-35) and has been shown to protect against the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid. SP also competes with beta A4(25-35) for binding to the SEC-receptor. SP neurons have also been found to be depleted in AD. Using a blister model of inflammation in the rat hind footpad, we have examined the effect of beta A4(25-35) and its interaction with SP in rat skin microvasculature and determined age-related changes to these phenomena. In addition, pharmacological manipulation of these responses using SEC-receptor ligands (peptide 105Y and 105C) was also undertaken. Because of the evidence for co-existence and co-release of SP and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from the peripheral terminals of sensory nerves, it was of interest to examine the interaction of CGRP with beta A4(25-35) on rat skin microvasculature. beta A4(25-35) (10 microM) was perfused over the base of a blister raised on the hind footpad of anaesthetised young and old rats. This was followed by perfusion of SP (1 microM) or CGRP (1 microM) after Ringer's solution. Relative blood flow was monitored using a Laser-Doppler Flowmeter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence of a neurogenic component during IgE-mediated inflammation in mouse skin

IgE-mediated inflammation was measured in mouse footpads that lacked sciatic innervation. Mice were passively sensitized with a monoclonal antibody, IgE anti-dinitrophenol, or were immunized for specific IgE production. Antigen-induced swelling in the denervated footpads was reduced 23-39% when compared to sham or untreated controls. Reduced IgE-mediated swelling responses were attributed to the loss of a mast cell-nerve interaction and not to blood vessel sensitivity to vasoamines. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of the distal segment of the sciatic nerve completely restored IgE-mediated inflammation. These data provide in vivo evidence that peripheral nerves participate in cutaneous IgE-mediated swelling reactions with the net effect of increasing inflammation.

Substance P modulates the time course of nicotinic but not muscarinic catecholamine secretion from perfused adrenal glands of rat

1. Substance P (SP) and acetylcholine (ACh) are contained within the splanchnic nerve terminals in the adrenal gland and can be released in response to stress. In the rat, the release of aCh brings about secretion of catecholamines (CA) by acting on nicotinic and muscarinic receptors on the adrenal chromaffin cells. 2. In the present study, we have used a rat isolated adrenal gland preparation to investigate the effects of SP, perfused at different concentrations, on CA secretion evoked by 10(-5) M nicotine and 10(-4) M muscarine. 3. In the first 10 min stimulation period (S1), in the absence of SP, nicotine (10(-5) M) evoked substantial and equal secretion of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (Ad). In a second 10 min stimulation period (S2), carried out 18 min after S1, the nicotinic response was desensitized. In contrast, the muscarinic response, which preferentially evoked Ad secretion in S1 (Ad/NA: 8.7/1), was well maintained in S2. 4. SP present in S1 had no effect on desensitization of the subsequent nicotinic response in S2. 5. At low concentrations (10(-7)-10(-10) M), SP changed the time course of nicotine-induced CA secretion during S1 by enhancing CA secretion in the first 4 min and inhibiting CA secretion thereafter. The maximal effect occurred at 10(-9) M SP. 6. At a higher concentration (10(-5) M), SP inhibited total nicotinic CA secretion throughout S1 and produced a biphasic secretion of CA (depressed in the presence of SP and enhanced after wash out of SP). Pre-exposure of adrenal glands to SP (10-' to 10- M) for 10min produced marked inhibition of the nicotine-induced CA secretion. 7. In contrast to the effect of SP on the nicotinic response, SP from 10- to 10-SM had no effect on muscarinic CA secretion. 8. This difference in sensitivity of the nicotinic and muscarinic responses to SP points to a diversity of mechanisms available for control of adrenal catecholamine secretion. In addition to the ability of SP to increase or decrease the total amount of adrenal CA secretion, dependent on the concentration of SP, the present study shows that SP can change the time-course of nicotinic CA secretion. These results with the rat adrenal gland perfused in vitro suggests both a quantitative and temporal role for SP as a novel modulator of adrenal CA secretion.