Oxidative transformations of arachidonic acid in human dispersed lung cells: disparity between the utilization of endogenous and exogenous substrate

Testosterone stimulates prostanoid production by rat vas deferens

The rat isolated vas deferens produces and releases prostanoids into an incubation medium. Production of these substances from the exogenous precursor 14C arachidonic acid was studied in prepubertal, pubertal and adult animals. Synthesis of prostaglandin F, prostaglandin E, prostaglandin D and thromboxane B2 is lower in prepubertals arid increases significantly in pubertals, with no further modifications in adults. Castration of pubertals and adults dramatically reduces the production of all measured arachidonic acid metabolites but does not modify it in prepubertals. Replacement therapy with testosterone propionate significantly enhances prostanoid production in pubertal and adult castrated rats. Similar treatment on normal prepubertals also increases synthesis, indicating that androgens could be modulators of prostanoid synthesis in vas deferens. The lower effects obtained treating castrated adults with progesterone and with 17-beta estradiol suggest an action, at least partially specific for androgenic steroids. It is concluded that prostanoid production by the rat vas deferens from an exogenous precursor is closely related to the presence of androgens.

Clinical pharmacology of moclobemide, a new reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor

The clinical pharmacology of the new reversible monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, moclobemide, was examined in three separate studies in healthy male volunteers. In a single oral dose study, moclobemide (25-150 mg) was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and had a relatively short plasma half-life (mean 1.3 h after 150 mg). A decrease in the plasma concentrations of the noradrenaline metabolite 4- hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (HMPG), however, indicated a longer time to peak pharmacodynamic effect and longer duration of activity. Assay of platelet MAO activity did not reveal any evidence of irreversible inhibition of the B form of the isoenzyme. Single oral doses of moclobemide (150 and 300 mg) significantly lowered the threshold to the cardiovascular effects ('cheese reaction') of intravenous tyramine. However, after repeated administration of 100 mg three times daily for over 2 weeks, moclobemide caused significantly less potentiation than did phenelzine (15 mg three times per day) on the cardiovascular effects of oral tyramine, a clinically more relevant model. The MAO-B inhibitor, selegiline (5 mg once daily), also lowered the oral tyramine threshold significantly. Moclobemide was generally well tolerated by these healthy volunteers.

Characteristics of formation and further metabolism of leukotrienes in the chopped human lung

The bronchoconstrictive leukotrienes (LTs) LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4 (cysteinyl-LTs) and the chemoattractant LTB4 were formed in chopped human lung stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187, or supplied with the precursor LTA4. In contrast, challenge with anti-IgE exclusively induced release of cysteinyl-LTs, indicating that LTB4 is not released as a primary consequence of IgE-mediated reactions in the human lung. Furthermore, several differences were observed with respect to formation and further conversion of LTB4 and LTC4 in the chopped lung preparation. Thus, exogenous [1-14C]arachidonic acid was dose-dependently converted to radioactive LTB4, whereas the cysteinyl-LTs released were not radiolabeled and the amounts of LTC4, D4 and E4 were not influenced by addition of increasing concentrations of arachidonic acid. LTC4 was rapidly and completely converted into LTD4 and LTE4, with no further catabolism of LTE4 within 90 min. The metabolism of LTB4 was much slower than that of LTC4. Thus, following a 60 min incubation approx. 25% of the material remained as LTB4, whereas 35% was omega-oxidized and 40% eluted on RP-HPLC as two unidentified peaks.

Generation of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid by monolayer cultures of tracheal epithelial cells and intact tracheal segments from rabbits

We compared the profile of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) generated by cultured rabbit tracheal epithelial (TE) cells with that produced by intact rabbit tracheal segments at baseline and following addition of exogenous AA or calcium ionophore A23187. Lipoxygenase metabolites in effluent media were resolved by high-pressure liquid chromatography and quantitated by radioimmunoassay for monohydroxyeicosanoid (HETE) and leukotriene (LT) metabolites [5-, 12-, and 15-HETE; LTB4, LTC4, LTD4]. Following incubation with exogenous AA (10 micrograms/ml), cultured TE cells generated immunoreactive products that coeluted with authentic 5-, 12-, and 15-HETE standards. 12-HETE was the predominant metabolite. Whereas the generation of HETEs by TE monolayers was dependent on addition of exogenous AA, intact tracheal segments demonstrated a baseline production of 12-HETE and lesser amounts of 5- and 15-HETE as well as unidentified metabolites with UV absorbance at 280 nm. Incubation of tracheal segments with AA resulted in augmented metabolite production. In cultured TE cells, small quantities of HETEs were present intracellularly esterified to membrane phospholipids or free in the cytosol, and significant increases in free cytosolic 12- and 15-HETE were detected postincubation with AA. Calcium ionophore (5 microM) did not induce significant increases in HETE production in either cultured TE cells or tracheal segments. Minimal or no immunoreactive LTs B4, C4, and D4 were produced by TE monolayers or tracheal segments at baseline or following addition of AA or ionophore. Production of HETEs by cultured TE cells was not associated with decreased viability, release of intracellular lactic dehydrogenase, or loss of cells from the monolayers. Preincubation of monolayer cultures or tracheal segments with 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid prior to addition of exogenous AA inhibition metabolite production. Our observations provide further documentation for the generation of lipoxygenase metabolites by TE cells and suggest that the array of metabolites generated by cultured TE cells may not be representative of the entire spectrum of AA metabolites produced by intact native epithelium.

The immunoglobulin E- and calcium-dependent release of histamine and eicosanoids from human dispersed mastocytosis spleen cells

The clinical features of systemic mastocytosis have been ascribed to mast cell-dependent mediators, but there have been no studies of their release from isolated cells. We have investigated the release of histamine and eicosanoids from isolated spleen cells obtained from tissue of a mastocytosis patient undergoing therapeutic splenectomy. Dispersed cell preparations contained lymphocytes 65.9%, monocytes/macrophages 22.3%, neutrophils 9.9%, mast cells 1.1%, and eosinophils 0.8%; upon challenge with 0.1-3.0 microM A23187 they released histamine much greater than PGD2 greater than TXB2 greater than LTB4 greater than LTC4 approximately equal to LTD4 greater than LTE4. With immunological activation of passively sensitized cells, histamine and PGD2 release had similar dose-response characteristics, but TXB2, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 release differed in reaching maximum at 50 micrograms/ml and declining at 125 micrograms/ml anti-human IgE. Percoll centrifugation separated most of the histamine-containing cells to the middle of the gradient, but they were refractory to release with 0.3 microM A23187 or 50 micrograms/ml anti-IgE. Spontaneous release of histamine from these cells was not abnormally high (1.3%-4.5%). Electron microscopy of tissue sections revealed large numbers of mast cells with empty granules. It is possible that the refractory cells observed are such mast cells where intracellular histamine is no longer granule-associated. Most net histamine and PGD2 release was confined to cells at the bottom of the gradients (1.078-1.09 g/ml), although some release of PGD2 occurred near the top (1.05-1.058 g/ml). There was a significant correlation between the net release of histamine and PGD2 with both immunological (r = 0.92; n = 16) and A23187 (r = 0.97, n = 14) activation. These studies provide evidence for a link between PGD2 and histamine release in mastocytosis spleen cells.

Effects of a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, flurbiprofen, and an H1 histamine receptor antagonist, terfenadine, alone and in combination on allergen induced immediate bronchoconstriction in man

The effect of flurbiprofen, a potent cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, on histamine and methacholine reactivity was assessed in seven atopic subjects with asthma. Flurbiprofen 150 mg daily for three days displaced the histamine-FEV1 concentration-response curve to the right by 1.5 doubling doses, whereas no effect was observed on the response to methacholine. Subsequently the effects of flurbiprofen and terfenadine, a specific H1 histamine receptor antagonist, on allergen induced bronchoconstriction were studied in seven atopic but non-asthmatic subjects. The subjects inhaled the concentration of grass pollen allergen that had previously been shown to produce a 20% fall in FEV1 on separate occasions after prior treatment with placebo, flurbiprofen 150 mg daily for three days, terfenadine 180 mg three hours before challenge, and the combination of flurbiprofen and terfenadine. After placebo, allergen challenge caused a mean (SEM) maximum fall in FEV1 of 37.6% (2.6%) after 20 (3.7) minutes, followed by a gradual recovery to within 15% of baseline at 60 minutes. Terfenadine reduced the maximum allergen provoked fall in FEV1 to 21.5% (2.2%) and reduced the area under the time-response curve (AUC) by 50% (6%). Flurbiprofen alone reduced the mean maximum fall in FEV1 to 29.6% (3.2%) and reduced the AUC by 26%. The effect of the combination of flurbiprofen and terfenadine did not differ significantly from that of terfenadine alone. We conclude that histamine and prostaglandins contribute to immediate allergen induced bronchoconstriction and that a complex interaction occurs between the two classes of mediators.

Effect of inhaled piriprost (U-60, 257) a novel leukotriene inhibitor, on allergen and exercise induced bronchoconstriction in asthma

The leukotrienes, a group of oxidative metabolites of arachidonic acid, have potent pharmacological actions on human airways. We have investigated the effects of a leukotriene synthesis inhibitor, piriprost (U-60, 257) administered by inhalation on allergen and exercise induced bronchoconstriction in 12 subjects with allergic asthma. Subjects underwent diagnostic challenges with allergen and treadmill exercise to define the strengths of the stimuli required to reduce the FEV1 to about 25% of baseline (PS25). On separate study days subjects inhaled either piriprost 1 mg or vehicle placebo, followed 15 minutes later by the PS25 allergen or exercise. The FEV1 was measured at regular intervals before and after challenge up to 60 minutes. After allergen challenge in six subjects peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured for the following 20 hours. When compared with placebo, inhalation of piriprost had no significant protective effect on the fall in FEV1 at any time point within 60 minutes of allergen or exercise challenge. In the four subjects with a documented late asthmatic reaction 2-12 hours after allergen challenge piriprost had no protective effect when compared with placebo. In the subjects who recorded PEF over 20 hours after allergen challenge there was no significant difference between piriprost and placebo. Piriprost was appreciably more irritant to the respiratory tract than was placebo. On the assumption that inhaled piriprost was bioavailable in the airways, this study casts doubt on any theory of a pivotal role for leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of acute exercise and allergen induced airway bronchoconstriction in asthma.

Ionophore-dependent generation of eicosanoids in human dispersed lung cells. Modulation by 6,9-deepoxy-6,9-(phenylimino)-delta 6,8-prostaglandin I1 (U-60,257)

6,9-Deepoxy-6-9-(phenylimino)-delta 6,8-prostaglandin I1, a prostacyclin analogue reported to inhibit sulphidopeptide leukotriene formation in animals, was evaluated for its pharmacological activity against eicosanoid and histamine release from human dispersed lung cells (HDLC). In the absence of drug, challenge of HDLC with A23187 (2.5 microM) increased immunoreactive eicosanoid generation by factors of 7.6 for prostaglandin (PG) D2, 9.1 for TXB2, 3.2 for PGF2 alpha, 2.0 for 5-HETE, 6.3 for LTC4, in association with a twofold increase in histamine release. When exogenous [14C]-arachidonic acid was added to HDLC simultaneously with A23187 challenge, radiolabelled eicosanoids were recovered in the supernatant, but on separating the products by radio-thin layer chromatography the proportions of individual eicosanoids were not significantly different from unchallenged cells. With endogenous arachidonate, U-60,257 was a potent inhibitor of i-LTC4 generation at 1 microM, but between 3 and 300 microM there was a concentration-related reversal of this inhibition. The effects of U-60,257 on the metabolism of exogenous [14C]-arachidonic acid were also studied. Under these circumstances the drug was a potent inhibitor of both 5-HETE and 5,12-diHETE formation, without significantly affecting the formation of other mono-HETES. In agreement with previous endogenous substrate experiments there was a concentration-dependent inhibition of TxB2 formation from exogenous arachidonic acid. These findings highlight the complex pharmacological actions of U-60,257 which appear dependent on the source of arachidonic acid substrate.