Do NSAIDs contribute to acute fatty liver of pregnancy?

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Gingerol on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Gingerol was the main functional substance of Zingiberaceous plant which has been known as traditional medicine for thousands of years. The purpose of this experiment was to explore anti-inflammatory effects of gingerol and study the possible mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW246.7 cells. The cells were treated with 10 μg/mL LPS and 300, 200, 100, and 50 μg/mL gingerol for 24 h. The cytotoxicity of gingerol was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetra-zoliumbromide (MTT) method. Nitric oxide (NO) production was observed using Griess assays. Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 have been analyzed by ELISA. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-6, and IL-1β in LPS-induced RAW246.7 cells. Nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins have been assessed by western blot assays. The determination of MTT showed that cell viability was not significantly affected by up to 300 μg/mL gingerol. Compared with LPS group, 50, 100, 200, and 300 μg/mL gingerol can inhibit the production of NO and the inhibitory rate was 10.4, 29.1, 58.9, and 62.4%, respectively. The results indicated gingerol existed anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, gingerol also observably inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE₂ (p < 0.01) expression and secretion in a dose-dependent manner. At the genetic level, after the intervention of gingerol, mRNA transcriptions of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-1β were all decreased. The protein expressions of iNOS, NF-κB, p-p65, and p-IκB were significantly increased in LPS-induced cells, while these changes were reversed by the treatment with gingerol. This study suggested that gingerol exerts its anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced macrophages which can inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines by targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy after aspirin intake

Acute fatty liver is a rare but fatal complication of pregnancy. Here we describe a patient presenting with stupor and jaundice after aspirin intake at 35 weeks of gestation. Supportive management and delivery resulted in uneventful discharge of the patient and the newborn. Differential diagnosis and management of this condition are discussed.

A new family of thromboxane receptor antagonists with secondary thromboxane synthase inhibition

We report herein a novel class of thromboxane receptor (TP receptor) antagonists modeled on unstable natural lipids that we identified several years ago, the hepoxilins. These antagonists have been rendered chemically and biologically more stable than the natural compounds through structural modification by chemical synthesis. We demonstrate that the analogs inhibit the aggregation of human platelets in vitro evoked by the thromboxane receptor agonists, I-BOP ([1S-[1alpha,2alpha(Z),3beta(1E,3S*),4alpha]]-7-[3-[3-hydroxy-4-(4-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl]-7-oxabi-cyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]5-heptenoic acid) and U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxy-prosta-5Z,13E-dien-1-oic acid). The most potent of the analogs described, PBT-3 [10(S)-hydroxy-11,12-cyclopropyl-eicosa-5Z,8Z,14Z-trienoic acid methyl ester], has an IC(50) versus aggregation by I-BOP = 0.6 x 10(-7) M and versus U46619 = 7 x 10(-7) M, representing one of the most potent anti-aggregating substances so far described. PBT-3 also inhibits thromboxane formation and aggregation evoked by collagen with an IC(50) = 8 x 10(-7) M. Other PBT (hepoxilin cyclopropane) analogs so far tested were 5- to 10-fold less active, and the native hepoxilins were about 500-fold less active. Neither PBT-3 nor the other analogs inhibited 12-lipoxygenase, phospholipase A(2), or cyclooxygenase 1 or 2, and weakly stimulated adenyl cyclase (threshold stimulation at 10(-7) M and little selectivity for each of the PBT compounds). TP antagonism by PBT-3 was further demonstrated in receptor binding studies through use of (125)I-BOP, where the IC(50) for PBT-3 was 8 x 10(-9) M, approximately 16-fold less than for I-BOP itself. These findings identify a new mode of action of PBT-3 and other related analogs as primarily TP antagonists. These studies identify a new family of compounds useful in further development as novel therapeutics for thromboxane-mediated diseases.