Indium-111-radiolabeled guinea pig peripheral leukocytes. In vivo distribution and response to leukotriene B4

5-Lipoxygenase and endotoxin-induced microvascular albumin exchanges and leucocyte recruitment in guinea-pig lungs

The interference of the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW B70C ((E)-N-(3-[3-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl]-1(R,S)-methyl prop-2-enyl)-N-hydroxyurea), with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)-induced lung leucocyte sequestration and microvascular albumin exchanges was evaluated in the anaesthetised guinea-pig using radioactive tracers, in parallel to the effects on cell counts in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, blood tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) content, secretion of phospholipase A2 and synthesis of leukotriene C4 by alveolar macrophages. Intravenous injections of 0.1 or 1 mg/kg endotoxin induced lung leucocyte sequestration but only the higher dose induced an increase in albumin microvascular exchanges and the infiltration of leucocytes towards the airway lumen. Leukotriene B4, a potential mediator of the 5-lipoxygenase-dependent endotoxin effects, induced a rapid and transient lung leucocyte sequestration and leucopenia associated with a more progressive increase in microvascular exchanges. The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW B70C, injected i.p. (30 mg/kg) prevented leukotriene C4 synthesis by alveolar macrophages and reduced leucocyte migration to the airways lumen as well as albumin microvascular leakage but did not affect the endotoxin-induced increase in the blood level of TNF-alpha and of secreted phospholipase A2. However, BW B70C failed to modify vascular leucocyte margination induced by 1 mg/kg endotoxin, suggesting that, apart from a role of 5-lipoxygenase, alternative pathways operate in response to endotoxin in guinea-pig.

Pharmacological profile of a novel, orally active leukotriene B4 antagonist, SM-15178

SM-15178, a new hydroxyacetophenone derivative, was evaluated to determine its antiinflammatory activity and antagonistic activity against leukotriene B4 (LTB4). SM-15178 inhibited [3H]LTB4 binding to its receptors on human neutrophils (IC50 = 0.30 microM). It inhibited LTB4-induced chemotaxis of human neutrophils (IC50 = 0.72 microM) with little inhibitory effect against C5a or FMLP-induced chemotaxis at concentrations up to 30 microM. The compound alone did not cause human neutrophil chemotaxis at concentrations up to 10 microM. LTB4-induced chemotaxis of mouse and rat neutrophils and guinea pig eosinophils was also inhibited by the compound, with IC50 values of 0.55, 0.52, and 0.58 microM, respectively. In an in vivo study, SM-15178, given orally, significantly prevented LTB4-induced transient leukopenia. It also suppressed LTB4-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig almost completely when given orally at a dose of 40 mg/kg. Furthermore, orally given SM-15178 suppressed arachidonic acid-induced neutrophil infiltration in mouse ears and Arthus reaction-induced paw edema in the mouse in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that SM-15178 is a selective and orally active LTB4 antagonist and that it might be effective for the treatment of some types of inflammatory diseases.

LTB4-induced transient neutropenia in the rat: a model for evaluating efficacy and bioavailability of LTB4 receptor antagonists

An animal model of leukotriene B4- (LTB4) induced neutropenia has been developed to evaluate LTB4 receptor antagonists in vivo. LTB4, a potent chemotactic inflammatory mediator, when administered intravenously, induces a profound, rapid, and transient redistribution of blood neutrophils from the circulating pool to the marginated pool. This phenomenon is applied in the neutropenia model whereby circulating blood neutrophil counts prior to and after intravenous infusion of LTB4 are compared. Kinetics of LTB4-induced neutrophil responses are determined through the use of a Technicon H*1 automated blood cell analyzer. LTB4 receptor antagonists are identified by inhibition of LTB4-induced neutropenia. Standard antiinflammatory compounds including BW-755C, Abbott A-64077 (zileuton), dexamethasone-21-acetate, indomethacin, and naproxen did not affect LTB4-induced neutropenia. A potent LTB4 receptor antagonist, designated "RPR," inhibited LTB4-induced neutropenia following oral administration in a dose-dependent fashion.

Pharmacological differentiation by pertussis toxin of the in vivo acute responses to fMLP and PAF in guinea-pig lungs

1. The effects of pertussis toxin on the N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP) and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced variations in pulmonary capillary albumin exchanges, blood volume, leucocyte or platelet sequestration were studied in the guinea-pig, by use of radioactive tracers. The effects of pertussis toxin on pulmonary insufflation pressure were studied in parallel. 2. The i.v. administration of fMLP and PAF to the guinea-pig was followed by bronchoconstriction, increased lung capillary albumin exchanges (vasopermeability) sequestration of leucocytes, leucopenia and reduction of blood volume (vasoconstriction). PAF also induced platelet sequestration in lungs and thrombocytopenia. 3. Pertussis toxin (10 micrograms kg-1, i.v., 72 h before the experiment) prevented all the studied fMLP-induced effects, but failed to modify PAF-induced bronchoconstriction, lung vasoconstriction, platelet sequestration, thrombocytopenia and the increased capillary vasopermeability. In the same conditions the lung leucocyte sequestration was not significantly affected when leucopenia was partially reduced. 4. It is suggested that the effects of fMLP, but not those of PAF, involve a Gi-like protein.

Platelet activating factor-induced pulmonary accumulation of 111Indium-oxine labelled neutrophils in anesthetized guinea pigs

The thoracic accumulation of neutrophils labelled with 111Indium-oxine in response to infusion of platelet activating factor (PAF, 18 ng/kg/min x 5 min, i.v.) was studied using an automated isotope monitoring system (AIMSplus) in anesthetized guinea-pigs. Loss of cell associated radioactivity in vitro was less than 1% over 4 hr. Labelled neutrophils maintained their functional capacity (oxidative response to the cell stimulants N-formyl-L-methionine-L-leucine-L-phenylalanine and phorbol myristate acetate) and greater than 95% viability (ethidium bromide/acridine orange stain) in vitro. Total thoracic radioactivity increased significantly from baseline in response to PAF with a slight tachyphylaxia in the neutrophil-accumulation after a repeat PAF infusion. The highest ratios of radiolabel (tissue/blood) were found in the spleen much greater than liver greater than lung.

Eosinophil-eicosanoid interactions: inhibition of eosinophil chemotaxis in vivo by a LTD4-receptor antagonist

Chemotaxis of guinea-pig eosinophils in vivo has been studied in the guinea-pig conjunctiva. Guinea-pig eosinophils were labelled with 111In oxine and injected i.v. into recipient animals. Circulating radioactivity remained constant over a period of 4 h but dropped transiently in response to a bolus injection (1 nmol) of platelet activating factor (PAF), suggesting that the 111In-labelled eosinophils had retained their responsiveness to PAF. Leukotriene D4 (LTD4, 1 nmol/eye) and PAF (10 nmol/eye), but not histamine (5 nmol/eye), induced a significant 2.5-fold increase in conjunctival radioactivity, a measure of eosinophil chemotaxis in vivo, after 17 h. Antigen challenge (250 micrograms/eye) in ovalbumin-sensitized animals produced larger responses (8-fold increases) at the same time point. A specific LTD4 receptor antagonist MK-571 (10 micrograms/eye) completely inhibited in vivo chemotactic responses to LTD4, and partially inhibited (54%) the responses to ovalbumin (observations subsequently confirmed by histological studies). As eosinophils may play an important role in allergic diseases, the results with MK-571 indicate that selective and potent LTD4 receptor antagonists may provide a novel therapy for allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis and asthma.

Arachidonic acid products and the thoracic accumulation of neutrophils and platelets following i.v. antigen challenge of sensitised guinea-pig

The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, AA861 and phenidone, have been shown to inhibit the formation and release of leukotrienes C4, D4 and B4 from isolated perfused sensitised guinea pigs lungs when challenged through either the pulmonary system or the airways. The same drugs inhibit the thoracic neutrophil, but not platelet, accumulation observed following i.v. antigen challenge of sensitised guinea pigs. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, at doses which inhibited an arachidonic acid-induced thoracic platelet accumulation, had no effect on the platelet response following antigen challenge. Indomethacin did affect, however, the neutrophil response to antigen challenge presumably through mechanisms unrelated to cyclooxygenase inhibition. These observations suggest a role for lipoxygenase products, possibly LTB4, but not cyclooxygenase products in the neutrophil response to i.v. antigen challenge.