Inhibition of human neutrophil function by tolfenamic acid involves inhibition of Ca2+ influx

Thermodynamic and structural study of tolfenamic acid polymorphs

The article deals with the study of two polymorphic modifications in the space groups P2(1)/c (white form) and P2(1)/n (yellow form) of the tolfenamic acid. It also describes how the white form vapor pressure temperature dependence was determined by using the transpiration method and how thermodynamic parameters of the sublimation process were calculated. We have estimated the difference between the crystal lattice energies of the two polymorphic forms by solution calorimetry and found that the crystal lattice energy of the yellow form is 6.7+/-1.2 kJ mol(-1) higher than that of the white form, whereas Gibbs free energies of the forms obtained from the vapor pressure temperature dependence are practically the same. The modifications under consideration are monotropically related. From the practical point of view, the white form is more preferable due to its lower crystal lattice energy and better performing procedure. We have also studied the solubility, solvation and transfer processes of the tolfenamic acid white form in buffers (with various values of pH and ionic strengths), n-hexane and n-octanol. The thermodynamic parameters of the investigated processes have been discussed and compared with those determined for others fenamates. In the study we estimated specific and non-specific contributions of the solvation enthalpic term of the fenamate molecules with the solvents as well. The driving forces of the transfer processes from the buffers with pH 7.4 and different ionic strengths to n-octanol were analyzed. It was found that the relationship between the enthalpic and entropic terms depends essentially on the ionic strength. For the considered fenamates the transfer processes of the neutral molecules and the ionic forms are enthalpy-determined, whereas for the niflumic acid this process is entropy-determined.

Surfactant modulates calcium response of neutrophils to physiologic stimulation via cell membrane depolarization

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) reduces inflammation in the lung by poorly understood mechanisms. We have observed that surfactant-associated proteins (SAP) insert monovalent cation channels in artificial membranes. Neutrophils are primary mediators of acute pulmonary inflammation, and their functions are activated by increases in cytosolic ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) and by changes in membrane potential. We hypothesize that PS inserts SAP-dependent cation channels in neutrophils, causing membrane depolarization, altered [Ca2+] response, and depressed activation. Human neutrophils were isolated, exposed to PS+SAP (1% Survanta), PS-SAP (1% Exosurf), or buffer, and washed before activating with selected stimulants. PS+SAP reduced phorbol ester- and formyl peptide-stimulated adherence and aggregation by 38% (p < 0.05) and 54% (p < 0.02), respectively. PS+SAP also inhibited the formyl peptide-induced [Ca2+] response of neutrophils (p < 0.01), but only in the presence of external Ca2+. Further characterization of this inhibition demonstrated that PS+SAP blocked formyl peptide-induced influx of both Ca2+ and Mn2+, and that this inhibition was present during activation by other neutrophil stimulants (IL-8, immune complexes). Prior depolarization of neutrophils with gramicidin-D similarly inhibited the [Ca2+] response of neutrophils to formyl peptide, and analysis of neutrophil membrane potential by 3,3'-dipentyloxaearbocyanine iodide (diOC5(3)) fluorescence revealed that PS+SAP induced rapid neutrophil depolarization. In contrast, PS-SAP exhibited little effect on neutrophil function, [Ca2+], or membrane potential. We conclude that PS+SAP decreases neutrophil adherence and aggregation responses, blocks Ca2+ influx after physiologic stimulation, and decreases membrane potential. We speculate that these effects are caused by membrane depolarization via SAP-dependent cation channel insertion, and that all of these effects contribute to the antiinflammatory properties of PS+SAP.

Human milk effects on neutrophil calcium metabolism: blockade of calcium influx after agonist stimulation

Neutrophils are the predominant cellular mediators of acute inflammation, and human milk suppresses multiple neutrophil functions. We sought to determine whether these effects were mediated through disruption of normal intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Exposure of human neutrophils to human milk, followed by washing, resulted in altered Ca2+ transient responses to formyl-peptide stimulation in which the peak cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([free Ca]) was the same as in unexposed cells, but the postpeak decline in [free Ca] was more rapid. This effect was observed after human milk exposures as brief as 10 s, persisted for up to 4 h after human milk removal, and was concentration dependent. On the basis of experiments examining Ca2+-free conditions followed by Ca2+ supplementation, and experiments examining spontaneous and stimulated manganese and barium influx into neutrophils, the human milk effect was due to blockade of Ca2+ influx. Decreased Ca2+ transient responses to other physiologic stimuli (IL-8, opsonized Staphylococcus aureus, and immune complexes) were observed after human milk exposures. Rat intestinal epithelial cells and HL-60 cells failed to show these effects, suggesting a selective effect on mature inflammatory cells. Characterization of the Ca2+-blocking activity showed it was heat and acid stable in human milk with a molecular mass between 30-100 kD. Commercial human milk lactoferrin exhibited Ca2+ influx blockade activity, but recombinant human lactoferrin showed none. Separation of the activity by heparin affinity chromatography showed that it was distinct from lactoferrin. Human milk-induced blockade of Ca2+ influx provides a potential mechanism for broad suppression of neutrophil functions that may contribute to the antiinflammatory properties of human milk.

Ortho substituted polychlorinated biphenyls elevate intracellular [Ca(2+)] in human granulocytes

The perturbation of Ca(2+)-homeostasis in human granulocytes exposed to ortho and non ortho substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) was investigated. Ortho substituted PCB congeners increased intracellular free calcium, [Ca(2+)]i, in a concentration-dependent manner. The increase in [Ca(2+)]i was inversely proportional to the total surface area of the ortho substituted congeners. The effect of ortho substituted PCB congeners was dependent upon external Ca(2+) and phospholipase C activation, except for a tetra-ortho substituted congener, 2,2',6,6'-TeCB, that was not phospholipase C-dependent. We suppose that PCBs activate phospholipase C which leads to the production of ins(1,4,5)P3. This will release Ca(2+) from intracellular stores and subsequently activation of Ca(2+) release activated Ca(2+) channels (CRAC) in the plasma membrane. It is also possible that PCBs activate CRAC in a more direct manner. Our findings show that ortho substituted PCB congeners stimulate [Ca(2+)]i elevation in human granulocytes, and this could in part account for the effects of PCB on the immune system.

Signaling mechanisms of elevated neutrophil O2- generation after burn injury

A full skin thickness burn injury was produced in anesthetized rats by exposing 25% of total body surface area to 98 degrees C water for 10 s. Sham (exposed to 37 degrees C water) and burn rats were killed 1, 3, 7, or 10 days later. The role of Ca2+ signaling and Ca(2+)-related protein kinase C (PKC) activation in neutrophil O2- generation was ascertained by evaluating the effect of treatment of the rats with the Ca2+ entry blocker, diltiazem. There was an overt enhancement of O2- generation by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from burn rats on days 1, 3, and 7 postburn, with the peak release occurring on day 3 postburn. O2- generation comparable to the sham was noted on day 10 after the burn. O2- releases on days 1, 3, and 7 postburn were accompanied by marked elevation of Cai2+ and PKC responses. Like the O2- release, intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) response on day 10 after burn was suppressed to levels found in the sham group. The treatment of burn rats with diltiazem prevented the upregulation of both [Ca2+]i and PKC responses as well as O2- generation in neutrophils in rats on days 1, 3, and 7 after the burn. Because previous studies have shown that increases in [Ca2+]i precede O2- generation and degranulation, our results suggest that neutrophil O2- release enhancement in the early stages after burn injury (e.g., days 1-7 postburn) results from an overactivation of the Cai2+ and PKC signaling pathways. The heightened O2- generation during the early burn injury phase might play a role in tissue damage in one or more of host organs.

Inhibition by fenamates of calcium influx and proliferation of human lymphocytes

1. Flufenamic and tolfenamic acids have recently been shown to inhibit receptor-mediated calcium influx in human neutrophils. The present work was designed to study the effects of these two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on human peripheral blood lymphocyte activation. 2. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs; containing 90% lymphocytes) were stimulated by mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) or by a combination of an inhibitor of microsomal Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase thapsigargin (TG) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The effects of the two fenamates on cell proliferation were compared with respective changes in calcium metabolism. 3. Flufenamic and tolfenamic acids (10-100 microM) inhibited both Con A and TG + PMA-induced [3H]-thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner. At the same concentration range, the two fenamates inhibited the increase in intracellular free calcium concentration induced by Con A or TG + PMA. This effect was due to inhibition of calcium influx whereas calcium release from intracellular stores remained unaltered. 4. The inhibition of divalent cation influx was confirmed by showing that fenamates inhibited TG + PMA-induced Mn2+ influx. 5. The inhibitory effects of fenamates on PBMNC proliferation and Ca2+ influx were qualitatively similar with those of SK&F 96365, an earlier known inhibitor of receptor-mediated calcium entry. Ketoprofen, a chemically different prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor did not show similar suppressive effects on PBMNCs. 6. The data suggest that flufenamic and tolfenamic acids suppress proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by a mechanism which involves inhibition of Ca2+ influx and is not related to inhibition of prostanoid synthesis.