Effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on glycogenolysis in isolated hepatocytes

PGE2 synthesis and signaling in the liver physiology and pathophysiology: An update

The liver plays a central role in systemic metabolism and drug degradation. However, it is highly susceptible to damage due to various factors, including metabolic imbalances, excessive alcohol consumption, viral infections, and drug influences. These factors often result in conditions such as fatty liver, hepatitis, and acute or chronic liver injury. Failure to address these injuries could promptly lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a metabolite of arachidonic acid that belongs to the class of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and is synthesized via the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. By binding to its G protein coupled receptors (i.e., EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4), PGE2 has a wide range of physiological and pathophysiology effects, including pain, inflammation, fever, cardiovascular homeostasis, etc. Recently, emerging studies showed that PGE2 plays an indispensable role in liver health and disease. This review focus on the research progress of the role of PGE2 synthase and its receptors in liver physiological and pathophysiological processes and discuss the possibility of developing liver protective drugs targeting the COXs/PGESs/PGE2/EPs axis.

In Vitro Human Liver Model for Toxicity Assessment with Clinical and Preclinical Instrumentation

The existing in vitro toxicological models lack translational potential, which makes difficult the application of gathered information to clinical usage. To tackle this issue, we built a model with four different types of primary liver cells: hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells and hepatocytes. We cultured them in different combinations of composition and volumes of cell medium, hepatocyte proportions of total cells and additions of extracellular matrixes. We added rifampicin (RIF), ibuprofen (IBU) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to this model and observed the microanatomy and physiology changes for a week with preclinical and clinical instruments. Among the different model configurations, we selected the feature combination of the in vitro model that had similar biomarker values to those measured in clinical diagnostics. When we exposed the selected model configuration to RIF, IBU and 5-FU, we observed similar glucose, triglyceride and albumin dynamics as in vivo (from clinical data). Therefore, we have built an in vitro liver model that resembles the liver microenvironment, and we have analysed it with clinical instrumentation to facilitate data translation. Furthermore, during these observations, we found that Kupffer and LSEC cells are suitable candidates for the search for clinical diagnostic markers of liver function.

Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of angiotensin II on the liver

To ascertain the mechanism of interaction between angiotensins (AI and AII) and the liver, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (captopril) and a receptor antagonist (losartan) were used. Monovascular or bivascular liver perfusion was used to assess both hemodynamic (portal and arterial hypertensive responses) and metabolic (glucose production and oxygen consumption) effects. Microphysiometry was used for isolated liver cell assays to assess AII or losartan membrane receptor-mediated interaction. Captopril abolishes portal hypertensive response (PHR) to AI but not the AII effect. AII infused via the portal pathway promotes calcium-dependent PHR but not a hypertensive response in the arterial pathway (AHR); when infused into the arterial pathway AII promotes calcium-dependent PHR and AHR. Losartan infused into the portal vein abolishes PHR to AII but not the metabolic response; when infused via both pathways it abolishes the hypertensive responses and inhibits the metabolic effects. Isolated liver cells specifically respond to AII. Sinusoidal cells, but not hepatocytes, respond to 10 nM losartan. We conclude that AI has to be converted to AII to produce PHR. Quiescent stellate cells interacts in vitro with AII and losartan. Hemodynamic responses to AII are losartan-dependent but metabolic responses are partially losartan-independent. AII hemodynamic actions are mainly presinusoidal.

Inhibition and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: study in mitochondria, submitochondrial particles, cells, and whole heart

The effects of the anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac, piroxicam, indomethacin, naproxen, nabumetone, nimesulide, and meloxicam on mitochondrial respiration, ATP synthesis, and membrane potential were determined. Except for nabumetone and naproxen, the other drugs stimulated basal and uncoupled respiration, inhibited ATP synthesis, and collapsed membrane potential in mitochondria incubated in the presence of either glutamate + malate or succinate. Plots of membrane potential versus ATP synthesis (or respiration) showed proportional variations in both parameters, induced by different concentrations of nimesulide, meloxicam, piroxicam, or indomethacin, but not by diclofenac. The activity of the adenine nucleotide translocase was blocked by diclofenac and nimesulide; diclofenac also slightly inhibited mitochondrial ATPase activity. Naproxen did not affect any of the mitochondrial parameters measured. Nabumetone inhibited respiration, ATP synthesis, and membrane potential in the presence of glutamate + malate, but not with succinate. NADH oxidation in submitochondrial particles also was inhibited by nabumetone. Nabumetone inhibited O2 uptake in intact cells and in whole heart, whereas the other five drugs stimulated respiration. These observations revealed that in situ mitochondria are an accessible target. Except for diclofenac, a negative inotropic effect on cardiac contractility was induced by the drugs. The data indicated that nimesulide, meloxicam, piroxicam, and indomethacin behaved as mitochondrial uncouplers, whereas nabumetone exerted a specific inhibition of site 1 of the respiratory chain. Diclofenac was an uncoupler too, but it also affected the adenine nucleotide translocase and the H+-ATPase.

Metabolic effects and distribution space of flufenamic acid in the isolated perfused rat liver

The following aspects were investigated in the present work: (a) the action of flufenamic acid on hepatic metabolism (oxygen uptake, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, uricogenesis and glycogenolysis), (b) the action of flufenamic acid on the cellular adenine nucleotide levels, and (c) the transport and distribution space of flufenamic acid in the liver parenchyma. The experimental system was the isolated perfused rat liver. Perfusion was accomplished in an open, non-recirculating system. The perfusion fluid was Krebs/Henseleit-bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4), saturated with a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide (95:5) by means of a membrane oxygenator and heated to 37 degrees C. The distribution space of flufenamic acid was measured by means of the multiple-indicator dilution technique with constant infusion (step input) of [3H]water plus flufenamic acid. The results of the present work indicate that the metabolic effects of flufenamic acid are the consequence of an uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, a conclusion based on the following observations: (a) flufenamic acid increased oxygen uptake, a common property of all uncouplers; (b) the drug also increased glycolysis and glycogenolysis in livers from fed rats (these are expected compensatory phenomena for the decreased mitochondrial ATP formation); (c) flufenamic acid inhibited glucose production from fructose, an energy-dependent process; (d) the cellular ATP levels were decreased by flufenamic acid whereas the AMP levels were increased; and (e) the total adenine nucleotide content was decreased by flufenamic acid and uric acid production was stimulated. Indicator-dilution experiments with flufenamic acid revealed that this substance undergoes flow-limited distribution in the liver and that its apparent distribution space greatly exceeds the aqueous space of the liver. Flufenamic acid changed its behaviour when the portal concentration was increased from 25 to 50 microM. At 25 microM the initial upslope of the outflow profile clearly preceded that of all other concentrations. From the trend of the curves obtained with 50, 100 and 250 microM, one would expect an initial upslope situated at the right of the 50-microM curve. Furthermore, the time of appearance of flufenamic acid in the outflowing perfusate was practically the same irrespective of the portal concentration. For theoretical reasons one would expect progressively longer appearance times when the portal concentration was decreased. It is possible that the amount of flufenamic acid bound to the cell membranes during the early stages of the infusion produced changes that enabled these structures to bind a larger quantity of the drug than originally possible.

Effects of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase on isolated uteri of fasting rats

The effects of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase on the glucose metabolism of uteri isolated from 4-day underfed rats were studied. In control rats receiving normal feeding, the addition of indomethacin (5 x 10(-6) M); acetyl salicylic acid (10(-4) M); 400 microM of N(G)methyl-L-arginine, (L-NMMA) or 400 microM of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), does not modify the production of 14CO2 from U14C-glucose. On the contrary, in fasted rat uteri, indomethacin increases glucose oxidation significantly, while acetyl salicylic acid does not alter it. Also, the addition of L-NMMA has no effect. In another group of experiments, in the preparations containing indomethacin of uteri isolated from underfed rats, the addition of L-NMMA significantly changes the effect of indomethacin. Another inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, N(omega)nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), or hemoglobin (2 microg ml(-1)) a nitric oxide scavenger have the same effects while N(omega)nitro arginine-D-methyl ester (D-NAME) does not. However (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, does not alter the production of 14CO2 in uteri isolated from fasted rats. These results show that in underfed rats, indomethacin increases glucose oxidation independently from its inhibiting effect on cyclooxygenase. Specific inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase can reverse this effect.

Uncoupling effects of diclofenac and aspirin in the perfused liver and isolated hepatic mitochondria of rat

Gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and glycogenolysis were studied in rat perfused liver following the infusion of various concentrations of diclofenac and aspirin, two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Glucose synthesis was measured in livers isolated from 48-h fasted rats perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer containing L-lactate (2 mM) and pyruvate (0.1 mM) as precursors. Both diclofenac (0.01-0.1 mM) and aspirin (1-10 mM) had an inhibitory effect on gluconeogenesis (GNG). The inhibition was dose-dependent and reversible. For the estimation of glycogenolysis and glycolysis, the rates of glucose release and of lactate and pyruvate production were measured in livers of well-fed rats perfused with substrate-free buffer. Infusion of diclofenac (0.1 mM) or aspirin (5 mM) strongly stimulated glycogenolysis and glycolysis (GGL/GL). In general, an increased oxygen consumption by the liver tissue was also noted in both types of experiments, as deduced from the continuous monitoring of oxygen concentration changes in the effluent. Such a pattern of response can be attributed to the uncoupling effects of the two drugs on oxidative phosphorylation. Measurements of respiration rates and membrane potential in isolated liver mitochondria submitted to various concentrations of diclofenac and aspirin confirms this assumption. Thus, 0.01 to 0.2 mM diclofenac stimulates state-4 respiration and slightly inhibits state 3, decreasing the respiratory control ratio, while the membrane potential is decreased or collapsed (depending on the drug concentration). Similar effects are recorded for aspirin at higher concentrations (0.2-5 mM), even though state 3 is not affected in this case. Arguments are presented that the concentrations of the drugs used largely correspond to the pharmacological doses employed in antipyretic and anti-inflammatory treatments. Therefore, a greater consideration should be given to the uncoupling effect, at least from the toxicological viewpoint.

Effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam on energy metabolism in the perfused rat liver

1. The actions of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal and noncarboxylic anti-inflammatory drug, on the metabolism of the isolated perfused rat liver were investigated. The main purpose was to verify if piroxicam is also active on glycogenolysis and energy metabolism, as demonstrated for several carboxylic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. 2. Piroxicam increased oxygen consumption in livers from both fed and fasted rats. 3. Piroxicam increased glucose release and glycolysis from endogenous glycogen (glycogenolysis). 4. Gluconeogenesis from lactate plus pyruvate was inhibited. 5. The action of piroxicam on oxygen consumption was blocked by antimycin A, but not by atractyloside. 6. The action of piroxicam in the perfused rat liver metabolism seems to be a consequence of its action on mitochondria. 7. It can be concluded that inhibition of energy metabolism and stimulation of glycogenolysis are not specific properties of carboxylic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Naproxen inhibits hepatic glycogenolysis induced by Ca(2+)-dependent agents

1. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory naproxen inhibited steady-state glycogenolysis stimulation caused by norepinephrine, phenylephrine (alpha 1-agonists) and methotrexate (not receptor mediated) in the isolated perfused rat liver. Stimulation of glycogenolysis caused by these agents is Ca(2+)-dependent. 2. Naproxen did not inhibit glycogenolysis stimulation caused by glucagon. 3. The action of naproxen depended on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. At 0.25 mM extracellular Ca2+, the norepinephrine stimulated glycogenolysis was inhibited by 60% by 0.5 mM naproxen. At 3.5 mM Ca2+, inhibition was reduced to 25%. The inhibition degree correlated linearly with the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. 4. 45Ca2+ efflux stimulation caused by norepinephrine was not affected by naproxen, indicating that the mobilization of the intracellular Ca2+ pools was not significantly affected by naproxen. The initial increases in glycogenolysis caused by norepinephrine in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ (pre steady-state) were not affected by naproxen. These increases depend on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. 5. It can be concluded that the action of naproxen is most probably related to the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration which, under steady-state conditions, depends on the extracellular one during the action of Ca(2+)-dependent glycogenolytic agents.

Effect of chronic underfeeding on uterine glycogen of rats. Influence of indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid

Glycogen values in uterine strips isolated from normal-fed estrous or diestrous rats, or from rats fed a restricted diet (50% of normal food intake for 25 days) were measured. Determinations were made immediately after killing (0 time or post-isolation) as well as after incubation in glucose-free medium (60 min time or post-incubation). The post-incubation levels of glycogen in the uteri from normal-fed animals diminished significantly in comparison to post-isolation values, and this decrement was not modified by the addition of indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid or exogenous prostaglandins E1, E2 or F2 alpha. In rats fed a restricted-diet, the initial glycogen values (0 time) were significantly lower than in normal-fed controls, but did not decline further after incubation in glucose-free medium (60 min time). The addition of indomethacin, acetylsalicylic acid or of nordihydroguaiaretic acid led to a significant fall in the glycogen levels, and exogenous PGE1, PGE2 or PGF2 alpha failed to alter the effects of the inhibitors. The values of PGE and PGF prostaglandins release to the medium by the uterus from restricted-diet rats did not differ from those obtained in the experiments with normal-fed animals. Administration of 17-beta estradiol to restricted-diet rats led to suppression of the effects of this diet on the glycogen concentration. The above results indicate that in rats subjected to a prolonged period of dietary restriction, the uterine glycogen becomes responsive to the effects of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors, suggesting the operation of some regulatory mechanism during critical periods of nutrition.

Structural specificity for prostaglandin effects on hepatocyte glycogenolysis

Prostaglandins (PGs) are known to have effects on hepatic glucose metabolism. Some actions of PGs in intact liver systems may not involve PG effects directly at the level of the hepatocyte. To define the ability of structurally distinct prostaglandins to affect hepatocyte metabolism directly, the regulation of glycogenolysis was studied in hepatocytes isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats. PGF and PGB2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis in the hepatocyte system. Pinane thromboxane A2 (PTA2) and PGD2 had no effect on glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis. Consistent with their inhibition of glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis, PGF2 and PGF2 alpha inhibited glucagon-stimulated hepatocyte cyclic AMP accumulation. These actions of PGB2 and PGF2 alpha are identical with those previously reported for PGE2. Additionally, PGE2, PGF2 alpha and PGB2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in purified hepatic plasma membranes. In contrast, PGF2 alpha, PGD2 and PTA2 were all without affect on basal rates of hepatocyte glycogenolysis or hepatocyte cyclic AMP content. PGE2 also inhibited glycogenolysis stimulated by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine. Exogenous arachidonic acid was not able to reproduce the affects of PGE2 or PGF2 alpha on hepatocyte glycogenolysis, consistent with an extra-hepatocyte source of the prostaglandins in the intact liver. Thus PGE2 and PGF2 alpha act specifically to inhibit glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. No prostaglandin tested was found to stimulate glycogenolysis. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha may represent intra-hepatic modulators of hepatocyte glucose metabolism.

Effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug mefenamic acid on energy metabolism in the perfused rat liver

The action of mefenamic acid, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on energy metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver was investigated. Mefenamic acid in the range between 0.1 and 1.0 mM was infused to livers from well-fed rats and from 24-hr fasted rats. The former were perfused with substrate-free Krebs/Henseleit-bicarbonate buffer, allowing the measurement of glycogenolysis and glycolysis from endogenous glycogen. The livers from 24-hr fasted rats, on the other hand, were perfused with Krebs/Henseleit-bicarbonate buffer containing fructose, thus allowing the measurement of fructolysis and glucose synthesis. Oxygen consumption was measured in both cases. When present in the range between 0.1 and 0.5 mM, mefenamic acid increased glycolysis, oxygen uptake, glycogenolysis and fructolysis. Higher concentrations, depending on the perfusion conditions, were inhibitory. Glucose production from exogenous fructose, on the other hand, was inhibited at low mefenamic acid concentrations. In general terms, the effects of mefenamic acid on energy metabolism seemed to be the primary consequence of its uncoupling action on the respiratory chain. This conclusion is supported mainly by the opposite effects on glucose synthesis (inhibition) and oxygen consumption (activation). The intracellular concentration of mefenamic acid is much higher than the extracellular one, a phenomenon which may represent binding to intracellular membrane or proteins.

Stimulation of hepatic glycogenolysis by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

In isolated perfused rat livers, infusion of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (150 nM) resulted in a 3-fold stimulation of the rate of glucose production. This response was maximal at a perfusate PMA concentration of 150 nM, and was significantly diminished at higher concentrations of PMA (e.g. 300 nM). Stimulation of glycogenolysis by PMA was greatly decreased in livers perfused with Ca2+-free medium. PMA infusion into livers perfused in the absence of Ca2+ did not result in Ca2+ efflux from the livers. Additionally, in hepatocytes isolated from livers of fed rats, neither PMA nor 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-rac-glycerol stimulated the rate of glucose production. Although indomethacin has been demonstrated to block PMA-stimulated hepatic glycogenolysis [Garcia-Sainz & Hernandez-Sotomayor (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 132, 204-209], infusion of PMA into perfused rat livers did not alter the rates of production of either prostaglandin E2 or 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha in the livers. These data, along with the observed increases in the perfusion pressure and decrease in O2 consumption in isolated perfused livers suggest that phorbol-ester-stimulated glycogenolysis is not a consequence of a direct effect of phorbol ester on liver parenchymal cells.

The effect of alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists on the acid secretory responses of rat isolated gastric mucosa to electrical field stimulation

The effects of clonidine, UK-14,304, noradrenaline, para-aminoclonidine and phenylephrine were examined on the acid secretory response of the rat isolated gastric mucosa preparation to electrical field stimulation. Clonidine, UK-14,304, noradrenaline and para-aminoclonidine but not phenylephrine (10 microM) reduced the response of the gastric mucosa stimulated at 2.5 Hz; gastric mucosae stimulated at higher frequencies were insensitive to the action of these alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists. The inhibitory effect of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist UK-14,304 was antagonized by idazoxan but not by prazosin. These findings indicate that clonidine and other alpha 2-adrenoceptor agents inhibit the acid secretory response of the rat gastric mucosa to electrical field stimulation by an action at alpha 2-adrenoceptors, which are probably located on cholinergic nerve terminals.