Regulation of prostaglandin H synthase 2 expression in human monocytes by the marine natural products manoalide and scalaradial. Novel effects independent of inhibition of lipid mediator production

The marine natural products manoalide and scalaradial are potent anti-inflammatory agents that inactivate the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in vitro. To study the mechanism of inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in human monocytes by manoalide and scalaradial, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced prostaglandin biosynthesis and induction of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) were evaluated. LPS (10 ng/mL) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta, 50-1000 ng/mL) but not tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha, 300 ng/mL) induced the expression of the PGHS-2 isoform as determined by immunoblot analysis with a specific polyclonal antibody for PGHS-2. Manoalide and scalaradial (1-10 microM) inhibited LPS-induced endogeneous PGE2 production, reduced the LPS-induced PGHS activity, and reduced the expression of PGHS-2. Indomethacin [a PGHS inhibitor (0.01 to 0.1 microM)], zileuton [a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (3-10 microM)], and WEB-2806 [a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist (30 microM)] did not affect the LPS-induced expression of PGHS-2 in human monocytes. These results suggest that modulation of lipid mediator production by manoalide or scalaradial may not be involved in the observed effects on the expression of PGHS-2. Manoalide and scalaradial also inhibited the release of IL-1 beta and TNF alpha from LPS-stimulated monocytes. Expression of PGHS-2 induced by either LPS or IL-1 beta was blocked by the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra, 2 micrograms/mL) but not by rolipram, a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor that inhibits TNF alpha but not IL-1 beta release. Similar to LPS, IL-1 beta-induced PGHS-2 expression was apparently not regulated by lipid mediators such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes or PAF as determined with specific inhibitors and antagonists. Scalaradial and to some extent manoalide were capable of blocking the IL-1 beta-induced expression of PHGS-2. These results indicate that IL-1 beta is the predominant cytokine responsible for the induction of PGHS-2 in the human monocyte. Furthermore, marine natural products such as scalaradial have novel effects on the IL-1 beta-mediated induction of PGHS-2 in human monocytes, which appears to be independent of effects on lipid mediator production.

Cellular and topical in vivo inflammatory murine models in the evaluation of inhibitors of phospholipase A2

Several novel inhibitors of human synovial fluid phospholipase A2 (HSF-PLA2) were evaluated in cellular models of inflammatory mediator release (murine macrophage and human neutrophil) and topical in vivo inflammatory skin models in mice to ascertain the scope of effects which might be observed for PLA2 inhibitors. Potent inhibition of HSF-PLA2 in vitro can be observed with compounds such as scalaradial and ellagic acid, which both have IC50 values of 0.02 microM (using autoclaved [3H]-arachidonic-acid (AA)-labelled Escherichia coli membranes as substrate). Luffariellolide, a manoalide analog, and aristolochic acid are less potent (IC50 = 5 and 46 microM, respectively) in this assay. An interesting observation is that ellagic acid in cellular assays does not inhibit macrophage eicosanoid production and only 30% inhibition of PAF biosynthesis can be obtained at 50 microM in the human neutrophil. Possibly due to its irreversible mechanism of action, scalaradial retained its potent activity in both the macrophage (IC50 for PGE2 production = 0.05 microM) and neutrophil assays (IC50 for PAF biosynthesis = 1 microM). Aristolochic acid is active in these cellular assays (macrophage IC50 = 2.5 microM and neutrophil IC50 = 100 microM), but is consistently less active than either scalaradial or luffariellolide. The relative potencies of these compounds were determined in several murine in vivo inflammatory models such as oxazolone contact hypersensitivity, AA-induced ear edema and phorbol ester (PMA)-induced ear edema. In the mouse model of oxazolone contact hypersensitivity, these PLA2 inhibitors have little effect (< or = 30% inhibition at 400 micrograms/ear) with scalaradial and luffariellolide being less effective than either aristolochic or ellagic acid. PMA-induced ear edema was effectively inhibited by scalaradial, luffariellolide and aristolochic acid (ED50 = 70, 50 and 50 micrograms/ear, respectively) whereas ellagic acid was less effective (ED50 = 230 micrograms/ear). In AA-induced ear edema, these PLA2 inhibitors had minimal effects, as would be expected for compounds which inhibit PLA2. These results, especially those of ellagic acid, suggest that caution should be taken in the extrapolation of potency against a purified human extracellular type PLA2 to the scope of activities these compounds might have in the cellular and in vivo models. The consistency of scalaradial and luffariellolide may be inherent to their irreversible mechanism of action, which is a factor to be accounted for in the extrapolation of enzyme data to cellular and in vivo models.

Pharmacological characterization of WAY-121,520: a potent anti-inflammatory indomethacin-based inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)/phospholipase A2 (PLA2)

WAY-121,520 inhibited human synovial fluid PLA2 (HSF-PLA2) (IC50 = 4 microM) using arachidonic acid-labeled E. coli as substrate. Further biochemical characterization of WAY-121,520 demonstrated potent inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activity in the murine macrophage (LTC4, IC50 = 4 nM) and rat PMN (LTB4, IC50 = 10 nM) and an ability to antagonize LTD4 binding to isolated guinea-pig trachea (pKB = 6.0). In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was noted in murine TPA-induced (ED50 = 91 micrograms/ear) and arachidonic acid-induced (66% inhibition at 400 micrograms/ear) ear edema and in leukotriene-dependent antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig (73% inhibition at 50 mg/kg, p.o.). WAY-121,520 represents a novel series of indomethacin-based inhibitors of PLA2 with anti-inflammatory activity resulting from a combination of biochemical activities (inhibition of 5-LO and PLA2 and LTD4 antagonism). This agent may provide added therapeutic efficacy over more selective inhibitors.

PAF and LTB4 biosynthesis in the human neutrophil: effects of putative inhibitors of phospholipase A2 and specific inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase

The effect of several putative phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors on [3H]-acetate incorporation into platelet-activating factor (PAF) upon calcium ionophore A23187 stimulation of purified human neutrophils (PMN) were evaluated in vitro. PLA2 inhibitors such as p-bromophenacyl bromide (pBPB), ellagic acid, aristolochic acid and gossypol were without effect or only weakly inhibited PAF biosynthesis. Luffariellolide, a potent PLA2 inhibitor isolated from the marine sponge Luffariella sp., dose-dependently inhibited PAF production (IC50 = 5 microM). Due to the relationship between PAF and LTB4 biosynthesis, the effect of inhibiting LTB4 production on PAF biosynthesis was investigated. At concentrations which reduce LTB4 production by greater than 95%, Wy-50,295 tromethamine and A-64,077, specific 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors, did not significantly effect PAF production. In contrast, L-663,536, the 5-LO translocation inhibitor, was a potent inhibitor of PAF production (IC50 = 1 microM). This activity of L-663,536 may contribute to its pharmacological profile at higher doses. These data also suggest that PAF biosynthesis in human PMNs is not dependent on the formation or continued presence of leukotrienes.

Chemical modification of chalcone isomerase by mercurials and tetrathionate. Evidence for a single cysteine residue in the active site

Chalcone isomerase from soybean is inactivated by stoichiometric amounts of p-mercuribenzoate or HgCl2. Spectral titration of the enzyme with p-mercuribenzoate indicates that a single thiol group is modified. Treatment of modified enzyme with KCN or thiols results in a complete restoration of enzyme activity demonstrating that the inactivation is not due to irreversible protein denaturation. A product of the enzymatic reaction, naringenin, provides complete kinetic protection against inactivation by both mercurials. The binding constant (33 microM) for naringenin determined from the concentration dependence of the protection agrees with the inhibition constant (34 microM) for naringenin as a competitive inhibitor of the catalytic reaction. This agreement demonstrates that the observed kinetic protection results from the specific binding of naringenin to the active site. Incubation of native chalcone isomerase with sodium tetrathionate (0.1 M) results in a slow time-dependent loss of enzymatic activity. The inactivation of chalcone isomerase by tetrathionate and N-ethylmaleimide becomes very rapid in the presence of 6 M urea, indicating that the native tertiary structure is responsible for the low reactivity of the enzymatic thiol. The stoichiometric modification of reduced and denatured chalcone isomerase by [3H] N-ethylmaleimide indicates that the enzyme contains only a single cysteine residue and does not contain any disulfides. The evidence presented suggests that the only half-cystine residue in chalcone isomerase is located in the active site and thereby provides the first clue to the location of the active site in chalcone isomerase.