Effects of reactive oxygen species on arachidonic acid metabolism in rabbit platelets

Platelets stimulate airway smooth muscle cell proliferation through mechanisms involving 5-lipoxygenase and reactive oxygen species

Continuous recruitment and inappropriate activity of platelets in the airways may contribute to airway remodeling, a characteristic feature of inflammatory airway diseases that includes increased proliferation of the smooth muscle. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of platelets on proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) in culture and to determine the possible role of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this context. ASMC obtained from guinea pigs were cultured and co-incubated with washed platelets for 24 hours. Thereafter, the proliferation was measured with the MTS-assay; the results were also verified by using thymidine incorporation, DNA measurements and manual counting. The interaction between platelets and ASMC was visualized with fluorescence microscopy. We found that platelets bind to the ASMC and the presence of platelets caused a significant dose-dependent increase in ASMC proliferation. Co-incubation of ASMC with platelets also increased ROS-production, detected by the fluorescent probe DCFDA. Furthermore, the platelet-induced proliferation was reduced in the presence of the NADPH-oxidase inhibitors DPI and apocynin. A possible role of 5-LOX in platelet-induced proliferation and ROS-generation was evaluated by using the 5-LOX inhibitor AA-861 and the PLA(2)-inhibitor ATK. The results showed that inhibition of these enzymes significantly reduced the platelet-induced proliferation. Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that the ASMC but not the platelets express 5-LOX. In addition, our experiments revealed that the presence of AA-861 and ATK significantly inhibited the ROS-production generated upon co-incubation of platelets and ASMC. In conclusion, we show that platelets have a marked capacity to induce ASMC proliferation. Furthermore, our study indicates that the interaction between platelets and ASMC leads to activation of 5-LOX in the ASMC followed by an increased ROS-production, events resulting in enhanced ASMC proliferation. The new findings are of importance in understanding possible mechanisms contributing to airway remodeling.

Monochloramine potently inhibits arachidonic acid metabolism in rat platelets

In the present study, the effects of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), monochloramine (NH(2)Cl), glutamine-chloramine (Glu-Cl) and taurine-chloramine (Tau-Cl) on the formation of 12-lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolite, 12-HETE, and cyclooxygenase (COX) metabolites, TXB(2), and 12-HHT, from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in rat platelets were examined. Rat platelets (4x10(8)/ml) were preincubated with drugs for 5min at 37 degrees C prior to the incubation with AA (40microM) for 2min at 37 degrees C. HOCl (50-250microM) showed an inhibition on the formation of LOX metabolite (12-HETE, 5-67% inhibition) and COX metabolites (TXB(2), 33-73% inhibition; 12-HHT, 27-74% inhibition). Although Tau-Cl and Glu-Cl up to 100microM were without effect on the formation of 12-HETE, TXB(2) and 12-HTT, NH(2)Cl showed a strong inhibition on the formation of all three metabolites (10-100microM NH(2)Cl, 12-HETE, 21-92% inhibition; TXB(2), 58-94% inhibition; 12-HHT, 36-92% inhibition). Methionine reversed a reduction of formation of LOX and COX metabolites induced by NH(2)Cl, and taurine restoring that induced by both NH(2)Cl and HOCl. These results suggest that NH(2)Cl is a more potent inhibitor of COX and LOX pathways in platelets than HOCl, and taurine and methionine can be modulators of NH(2)Cl-induced alterations in the COX and LOX pathways in vivo.

Angiotensin II-induced Akt activation is mediated by metabolites of arachidonic acid generated by CaMKII-stimulated Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2

Angiotensin II (ANG II) promotes vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth, stimulates Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), and activates cytosolic Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2(cPLA2), which releases arachidonic acid (AA). ANG II also generates H2O2and activates Akt, which have been implicated in ANG II actions in VSMC. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of these signaling molecules to Akt activation in rat aortic VSMC. ANG II increased Akt activity, as measured by its phosphorylation at serine-473. ANG II (200 nM)-induced Akt phosphorylation was decreased by extracellular Ca2+depletion and calcium chelator EGTA and inhibitors of CaM [ N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide] and CaMKII {(2-[ N-(2-hydroxyethyl)]- N-(4-me-thoxybenzenesulfonyl)]amino- N-(4-chlorocinnamyl)- N-methylbenzyl-amine)}. cPLA2inhibitor pyrrolidine-1, antisense oligonucleotide, and retroviral small interfering RNA also attenuated ANG II-induced Akt phosphorylation. AA increased Akt phosphorylation, and AA metabolism inhibitor 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) blocked ANG II- and AA-induced Akt phosphorylation (199.03 ± 27.91% with ANG II and 110.18 ± 22.40% with ETYA + ANG II; 405.00 ± 86.22% with AA and 153.97 ± 63.26% with ETYA + AA). Inhibitors of lipoxygenase (cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate) and cytochrome P-450 (ketoconazole and 17-octadecynoic acid), but not cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), attenuated ANG II- and AA-induced Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, 5( S)-, 12( S)-, 15( S)-, and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and 5,6-, 11,12-, and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids increased Akt phosphorylation. Catalase inhibited ANG II-increased H2O2production but not Akt phosphorylation. Oleic acid, which also increased H2O2production, did not cause Akt phosphorylation. These data suggest that ANG II-induced Akt activation in VSMC is mediated by AA metabolites, most likely generated via lipoxygenase and cytochrome P-450 consequent to AA released by CaMKII-activated cPLA2and independent of H2O2production.

Effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species on cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 activities

The effects of reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion radical--O(2)*-, hydrogen peroxide--H(2)O(2) and hydroxyl radical--*OH; the reaction products of xanthine plus xanthine oxidase system) and reactive nitrogen species [nitric oxide--NO*; from 1-hydroxyl-2-oxo-3-(N-methyl-3-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1-triazene--NOC7 and peroxynitrite--ONOO(-)] on the activities of purified cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 were studied. Xanthine plus xanthine oxidase suppressed the COX-1 and -2 activities in a xanthine oxidase concentration-dependent fashion. This effect was reversed by addition of catalase to the reactive oxygen species-generating system but not by superoxide dismutase or mannitol, indicating that H(2)O(2) is the responsible metabolite. NOC7 activated the COX-1 activity but inhibited the COX-2 activity at concentrations ranging from 1 to 50 microM. Experiments utilizing a NO* antidote, carboxy-2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide revealed that the observed effects of NOC7 are caused by NO*.ONOO(-), a product of NO* and O(2)*-, both activated and inhibited the COX-1 and -2 activities, depending on ONOO(-) concentration. At a low concentration of ONOO(-) (5 microM) there was enhancement of the COX-1 and -2 activities, but with higher concentrations there was suppression of these two enzyme activities (COX-1, at 200 microM; COX-2, >50 microM). These results suggest that H(2)O(2), NO* and ONOO(-) can have different modulatory effects on the COX-1 and -2 activities.

Modification of the proteinase/anti-proteinase balance in the respiratory tract of Sprague-Dawley rats after single intratracheal instillation of benzo[A]pyrene-coated onto Fe(2)O(3) particles

Available data suggest that repeated concurrent exposure to haematite (Fe(2)O(3)) and benzo[A]pyrene (B[A]P) results in a decreased latency and an increased incidence of lung tumours in rodents compared to exposure to B[A]P alone. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed by the lung cells themselves and/or by activated inflammatory cells may possibly contribute to the development of pulmonary disorders such as cancer formation. In order to investigate the precise role of iron in the injury induced by B[A]P-coated onto Fe(2)O(3) particles, we tend to address the hypothesis that Fe(2)O(3) and B[A]P, alone or in association, can induce oxidative stress conditions (malondialdehyde) and/or inflammatory reactions (interleukin-6) and thereby disrupt the proteinase/anti-proteinase balance (cathepsins B and L, polynuclear neutrophil (PNN) elastase, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (alpha(1)PI) and its inhibitory capacity) in the rat respiratory tract. Thus, Fe(2)O(3) or B[A]P-coated onto Fe(2)O(3) particles produce oxidative stress conditions through not only iron-catalysed oxidative reactions but also inflammatory processes. However, B[A]P initiates only inflammatory responses. These pollutants generate increased levels of proteases and decrease the concentrations of free alpha(1)PI. There is also a clear relationship between the partial inactivation of alpha(1)PI and the occurrence of ROS after exposure to Fe(2)O(3), alone or as a carrier of B[A]P. Hence, the proteinase/anti-proteinase balance might be more disrupted by Fe(2)O(3) or B[A]P-coated onto Fe(2)O(3) particles than by B[A]P alone. These results suggest a mechanism that can explain why B[A]P-coated onto Fe(2)O(3) particles are more injurious than B[A]P alone.

Lichen metabolites. 1. Inhibitory action against leukotriene B4 biosynthesis by a non-redox mechanism

Of several lichen metabolites isolated from Parmelia nepalensis and Parmelia tinctorum, the didepsides atranorin (4) and diffractaic acid (5), as well as (+)-protolichesterinic acid (7), inhibited LTB4 biosynthesis in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Ethyl hematommate (3) and (+)-usnic acid (1) were only weak inhibitors, while methyl beta-orcinolcarboxylate (2) and gyrophoric acid (6) were inactive at concentrations up to 60 microM. Redox properties of the compounds were evaluated in terms of inhibition of nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation in model membranes, reactivity against the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and deoxyribose degradation as a measure of hydroxyl-radical generation. The results revealed that lichen metabolites neither acted as antioxidants against the peroxidation process in model membranes nor did they scavenge or produce free radicals, suggesting that the inhibitory effects on LTB4 biosynthesis was due to specific enzyme interaction rather than a nonspecific redox mechanism.

Oxidative inactivation of human and sheep platelet membrane-associated phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity

Incubation of human or sheep platelet crude membranes with xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine in the presence of Fe2+/ADP inactivated phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase, protein-tyrosine-phosphate-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.48) activity in a time-dependent manner, this inhibition being significant within 5 min of treatment. The dynamics of protein thiols differed depending on the platelet species, but in any case decreases in protein thiols were only visible 20-45 min after the start of the treatment. The inhibition of PTPase activity in general showed good a correlation with the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). The results with several antioxidants suggest that the inhibition of PTPase activity is related to the generation of alkoxyl and/or peroxyl radicals. Furthermore, the formation of fluorescent products and changes in amino groups were observed only after long incubation times with the oxidizing agents, these fluorescent products and the residual enzyme activity remaining in the membrane fraction. Treatment of platelet membranes with trans-2-nonenal and n-heptaldehyde, but not with acetaldehyde, also inhibited membrane-associated PTPase activity. However, the amount of protein thiols was reduced only by treatment with trans-2-nonenal. Fluorescence product formation was always higher with trans-2-nonenal, these products being mainly located in the protein fraction. The results with aldehydes suggest that secondary degraded products of lipid hydroperoxides affect PTPase activity. Kinetic studies of PTPase activity indicated that with all treatments enzyme inhibition is mainly due to a decrease in the Vmax value. The results of fluorescence anisotropy measurements of labeled platelet membranes did not support the notion of a contribution of the lipid organization to peroxidation-mediated PTPase inhibition. All the above results indicate that platelet membrane-associated PTPase inhibition due to treatment with xanthine oxidase/ hypoxanthine in the presence of Fe2+/ADP is a very complex, time-dependent process, and that it is probably related, at least after long periods of peroxidation, to changes in protein thiols and amino groups. We predict that the sensitivity of PTPase to lipid peroxidation must be physiologically relevant because of the increasing importance of tyrosine phosphorylation in signal transduction, in general, and in platelet activation and aggregation in particular.

Comparison of the effects of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite on the 12-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid in rabbit platelets

The effects of a new type of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing compound, 1-hydroxyl-2-oxo-3-(N-methyl-3-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1-triazene (NOC7), and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) on the formation of 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), thromboxane (TX) B2 and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) from exogenous arachidonic acid in washed rabbit platelets have been compared. At concentrations of 5 microM and below, NOC7 inhibited 12-HETE formation (56.5-98.8% inhibition). Moreover, NOC7 inhibited TXB2 and HHT formation at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 microM (TXB2, 62.2-88.1% inhibition; HHT, 11.6-62.2% inhibition). ONOO- had little or no effect on the production of these three metabolites at concentrations of up to 50 microM. Experiments utilizing a new class of NO antidote, carboxy-2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide, revealed that the observed effects of NOC7 are caused by NO. The effects of NO were reversed by addition of the superoxide generating system (xanthine plus xanthine oxidase and catalase), indicating that superoxide is a vital modulator of the action of NO. These results suggest that NO, but not ONOO- (up to 50 microM), can be a potent dual inhibitor of the 12-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase activities in platelets and that superoxide is an important regulator of the action of NO.

Effects of reactive oxygen species on the biosynthesis of 12 (S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in mouse epidermal homogenate

Arachidonic acid is converted to 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) in a homogenate of mouse epidermal cells. When the epidermal homogenate was preincubated with scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), catalase or superoxide dismutase, significantly larger amounts of 12-HETE were produced as compared to untreated controls, suggesting that 12-lipoxygenase is quite prone to inactivation by ROS and peroxides. Mouse epidermal homogenate was then exposed to nine different ROS-generating systems to study the effects of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, hypochlorite, peroxyl radicals, and alkyl hydroperoxides on the enzyme activity. Analysis by chiral phase high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that the 12-HETE biosynthesized from arachidonic acid by mouse epidermal homogenate was the 12 (S)-enantiomer and excludes oxidation of arachidonic acid by ROS in a nonspecific free radical mechanism which leads to racemic 12-HETE. ROS generated by the interaction of xanthine with xanthine oxidase strongly inhibited epidermal 12 (S)-HETE biosynthesis. A flux of 0.7 nmol of superoxide/min/ml of reaction medium resulted in more than 50% inhibition of epidermal 12-lipoxygenase activity. The decrease in 12 (S)-HETE biosynthesis appeared to involve both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. The efficacy of the latter species was also documented by exposure of mouse epidermal 12-lipoxygenase to glucose and glucose oxidase, which resulted in similar inhibitory effects on 12 (S)-HETE biosynthesis. The presence of the iron chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid during incubation of epidermal 12-lipoxygenase with both the xanthine/xanthine oxidase or the glucose/glucose oxidase systems partially protected the enzyme against inhibition, indicating that hydroxyl radical contributes to the overall inhibitory effect. Also, organic hydroperoxides inhibited epidermal 12-lipoxygenase, whereas singlet oxygen, hypochlorite, and peroxyl radicals were not effective. The results of this study lead to the proposal that 12-lipoxygenase activity may be regulated by ROS such as hydrogen peroxides, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals.

Inactivation of mouse epidermal 12-lipoxygenase by anthralin--implications for the role of oxygen radicals

In activation of 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) in mouse epidermal homogenate by the antipsoriatic drug anthralin has been studied in detail. In view of the chemical instability of anthralin in a physiological buffer, the biological effects ascribed to the molecule itself may be related to some of its breakdown products. However, the inhibitory activity could not be attributed to the known stable oxidation product of anthralin, danthron, which did not decrease (12-LO activity. Addition of the antioxidants 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) or beta-carotene, or the hydroxyl radical scavenger sodium benzoate, protected against anthralin-mediated 12-LO inactivation, suggesting that pro-oxidant species derived from anthralin play a key role in the inhibitory action. Even though inhibitory effects of anthralin against catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been observed under the conditions applied in this study, these antioxidant enzymes also partially prevented the inhibition of 12-LO by anthralin when added to the incubation mixtures. Control experiments without anthralin revealed that the oxygen radical scavengers and antioxidant enzymes, themselves, did not appreciably influence epidermal 12-LO activity. A mechanism underlying the inactivation of epidermal 12-LO by anthralin is proposed, which involves active oxygen species formed during the auto-oxidation of the drug.

Inhibition of the human platelet cyclooxygenase response by the naturally occurring phenazine derivative, 1-hydroxyphenazine

The phenazine derivative, 1-hydroxyphenazine (OHP), is produced in vivo by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an organism that colonises the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis. While known to inhibit leukotriene production by human neutrophils, the effects of OHP on cyclooxygenase pathways have not previously been reported. We used [3H] arachidonic acid (AA) under conditions of concurrent labelling-stimulation or pre-labelling for one hour followed by stimulation to determine the effects of OHP on the production of cyclooxygenase metabolites by human platelets stimulated with the calcium ionophore, A23187. Thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by OHP using either pre-labelled or concurrently labelled platelets. However, production of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) was not diminished. Determination of the amount of total free label (AA+non-esterified AA metabolites) after stimulation of pre-labelled platelets indicated a dose-dependent inhibition of the release of AA from phospholipid by OHP. This was reflected in a corresponding increase in phospholipid AA content. These data indicate that phenazine derivatives of bacterial origin exhibit complex interactions with pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism in host cells. These effects may prove to be of pharmacological importance.