Fungal metabolites. Part 11. A potent immunosuppressive activity found in Isaria sinclairii metabolite

A potent immunosuppressive activity was found in the culture broth of the fungus Isaria sinclairii (ATCC 24400). The metabolite, ISP-I ((2S,3R,4R)-(E)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-2- hydroxymethyl-14-oxoeicos-6-enoic acid, myriocin = thermozymocidin) suppressed the proliferation of lymphocytes in mouse allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction, but had no effect on the growth of human tumor cell lines. It also suppressed the appearance of plaque-forming cells in response to sheep red blood cells and the generation of allo-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mice after intraperitoneal or oral administration. The metabolite was 10- to 100-fold more potent than cyclosporin A as an immunosuppressive agent of the immune response in vitro and in vivo, and appears to be a candidate for clinical application as a powerful immunosuppressant.

Effect of FTY720, a novel immunosuppressant, on adjuvant- and collagen-induced arthritis in rats

The anti-arthritic effect of FTY720, 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride, a novel immunosuppressant which induces peripheral lymphocyte homing to peripheral lymph nodes, was compared with those of anti-rheumatic compounds, mizoribine and prednisolone in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). FTY720 at doses of 0.03-0.3 mg/kg, mizoribine at 3-30 mg/kg, and prednisolone at 1-10 mg/kg were orally administered to rats for 21 days from the day of inoculation with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis or type II collagen. Efficacy of FTY720 at 0.3 mg/kg was almost equal or higher as compared with those of mizoribine and prednisolone in both AA and CIA models. FTY720, but not mizoribine and prednisolone, decreased selectively lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood in both models below the levels of the normal rats. Although FTY720 gave no other abnormal signs resulting in side effects, mizoribine was lethal to rats at 30 mg/kg and prednisolone inhibited body weight gain at 10 mg/kg, indicating that FTY720 has a wider margin of safety compared with these reference compounds. FTY720 also inhibited the production of anti-collagen antibody in CIA model, while neither mizoribine nor prednisolone did it. These results suggest that FTY720 is a promising compound for the treatment of arthritis with a unique profile.

Fungal metabolites. Part 14. Novel potent immunosuppressants, mycestericins, produced by Mycelia sterilia

Mycestericins A, B, C, D and E were isolated from the culture broth of Mycelia sterilia ATCC 20349 along with thermozymocidin (= myriocin). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. The acetate of mycestericin C was identical with the acetate of 6,7-dihydromyriocin. Mycestericins suppressed the proliferation of lymphocytes in the mouse allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction, with a potency similar to that of myriocin.

Hypogalactosylation of serum IgG in patients with ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis

The triad of small vessel vasculitides (SVV) comprise Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CS). All three are associated with presence of circulating IgG antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) which target autoantigens contained, primarily, within neutrophil azurophilic granules. The widely accepted model of pathogenesis suggests that ANCA activate cytokine-primed neutrophils within the microvasculature, leading to by-stander damage to endothelial cells, and rapid escalation of inflammation with recruitment of mononuclear cells. Activation may be initiated, in vitro, by the coligation of the PR3 or MPO antigen, translocated to the cell surface, and FcgammaRIIa/FcgammaRIIIb receptors. This suggests that the IgG subclass profile of ANCA and, possibly, its glycosylation status could influence the inflammatory mechanisms activated. The glycosylation status of total IgG isolated from the sera of patients with WG (13), MPA (6) and CSS (1) was determined by analysis of the released oligosaccharides. A deficit in IgG galactosylation is demonstrated for all patient samples, compared to controls. The mean percentage values for the agalactosylated (G0) oligosaccharides were 57% (SD +/- 9.71), 47% (SD +/- 4.25) and 28% (SD +/- 4.09) for WG, MPO and control samples, respectively. The G0 levels for polyclonal IgG isolated from the sera of both WG and MPA patients were significantly increased compared to controls (P < 0.0001). The major glycoform present therefore is agalactosylated (G0) IgG. In previous studies the G0 glycoform of IgG has been shown to bind and activate mannan binding lectin, and hence to activate the complement cascade, and to facilitate mannose receptor binding and the uptake of IgG complexes by macrophages and dendritic cells. Both of these activities could impact on the processing and presentation of self-antigens in autoimmune disease.

Effect of FTY720, a novel immunosuppressant, on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Anti-arthritic effect of FTY720, a novel immunosuppressant, was compared with those of immunosuppressants cyclosporin A and tacrolimus in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

MATERIAL

Male LEW rats.

TREATMENT

FTY720 (0.03-0.3 mg/kg), cyclosporin A (1-10 mg/kg) or tacrolimus (0.3-3 mg/kg) were orally administered to rats for 21 days beginning on the day (day 0) of adjuvant inoculation. In addition, the anti-arthritic effect of FTY720 (0.3 mg/kg) and cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg) were evaluated by administration to animals for 5 consecutive days (days 2-6, 6-10, and 10-14).

METHODS

Adjuvant-induced arthritis was produced by intradermal injection of 0.5 mg heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Hindpaw edema was measured plethysmographically. The day of arthritis onset was determined macroscopically. Bone degradation was determined by radiography. Peripheral blood leukocytes were classified microscopically.

RESULTS

All test compounds inhibited the incidence of arthritis, hindpaw edema and bone destruction. In addition, FTY720 but not cyclosporin A or tacrolimus markedly decreased the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes. FTY720 treatment on days 6 to 10 inhibited the bone destruction and hindpaw edema.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the anti-arthritic effect of FTY720 in this adjuvant-induced arthritic model was more potent than those of cyclosporin A and tacrolimus. FTY720 administered on days 6 to 10 showed the inhibitory effect on the bone destruction and hindpaw edema. FTY720 may be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Fungal metabolites. Part 12. Potent immunosuppressant, 14-deoxomyriocin, (2S,3R,4R)-(E)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyleicos-6-enoic acid and structure-activity relationships of myriocin derivatives

In order to investigate the structure-activity relationships, fourteen derivatives of myriocin ((2S,3R,4R)-(E)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-14-oxoeicos- 6-enoic acid) were prepared and examined for immunosuppressive activity on mouse allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction in vitro. Among them, 14-deoxomyriocin ((2S,3R,4R)-(E)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-2- hydroxymethyleicos-6-enoic acid) was the most potent. It also suppressed the generation of allo-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mice upon intraperitoneal administration, with a potency 10-fold greater than that of myriocin.

Induction of apoptotic DNA fragmentation by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cultured rat gastric mucosal cells

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to cause apoptosis in several cell lines including transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts and human colon cancer cells. We herein report the apoptotic effect of NSAIDs in a non-transformed cell line derived from the rat gastric mucosa, RGMI (rat gastric mucosa cell first). 1-[p-Chlorobenzoyl]-5-methoxy-2-methylindole-3-acetic acid (indomethacin) and sodium 2-(2,6-dichloroanilino)phenylacetate (sodium diclofenac), potent and non-selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, were found to induce DNA fragmentation in RGM1 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The expression of mRNA for cyclooxygenase-2 was hardly detected in the intact cells but was clearly enhanced when the cells were incubated with the two NSAIDs. In contrast, the expression of mRNA for cyclooxygenase-1 was constitutive and was never affected by NSAIDs. The effect of [3,4-di(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-isoxazolyl] acetic acid (mofezolac), a potent and highly preferential inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-1, and N-[2-(cyclohexyloxy)-4-nitrophenyl]methanesulphonamide (NS-398), a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, on DNA fragmentation and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression was weak compared to the effect of indomethacin or sodium diclofenac. The DNA fragmentation induced by sodium diclofenac was hardly affected by the exogenous addition of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 but was inhibited by caspase inhibitors such as Ac-YVAD-CHO and Ac-DEVD-CHO. The present data provide the first evidence that NSAIDs, such as indomethacin and sodium diclofenac, cause apoptotic DNA fragmentation in cultured gastric mucosal cells, and also indicate the involvement of caspases rather than the inhibition of cellular prostaglandin synthesis in the apoptotic process.

Alterations of c-fos gene methylation in the processes of aging and tumorigenesis in human liver

The state of DNA methylation in the c-fos gene was examined in human livers of different ages, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The degree of methylation in the intron 1 to exon 4 region increased with age, whereas all of the 10 cirrhosis samples revealed a decrease in methylation when compared to normal livers of similar ages. The 11 hepatocellular carcinomas showed varied alterations suggesting that the alteration of the c-fos gene methylation is related to aging as well as to early-step of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Analgesic effect of mofezolac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, against phenylquinone-induced acute pain in mice

The oral administration of mofezolac, [3,4-di(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-isoxazolyl]acetic acid, resulted in the suppression of writhing induced by the intraperitoneal injection of phenyl-p-benzoquinone (phenylquinone, PQ) in mice. The analgesic activity of mofezolac was almost as potent as that of indomethacin, and more potent than that of sodium diclofenac, zaltoprofen, NS-398, and etodolac when their 50% effective doses were compared. The in vitro inhibitory activity of mofezolac against ovine cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 was also more potent than that of any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) tested, whereas the activity of mofezolac against COX-2 was relatively weak. A Western analysis revealed COX-1 to be constitutively expressed, whereas COX-2 was hardly expressed until 30 min after the PQ-injection in the peritoneal cells. Because the writhing terminated within 30 min after PQ-injection, the prostaglandins involved in the induction of writhing seem to be derived from COX-1. These data thus indicate that potent analgesic activity of mofezolac against the present model to be more closely related to its potent inhibitory activity against COX-1 but not against COX-2.

Expression of hybrid isomyosins in human skeletal muscle

Myosin of human skeletal muscles was analyzed by means of several electrophoretic techniques. Myosin heavy chain (HC)-IIa-and HC-IIb-based isomyosins were identified by pyrophosphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PP-PAGE). The electrophoretic mobilities of these fast-twitch muscle isomyosins differed in the order HC-IIa triplets < HC-IIb triplets. To determine the subunit composition of myosin molecules that function in intact muscle, two-dimensional electrophoresis in which the first and second dimensions were PP-PAGE and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE, respectively, was also performed. Slow-twitch muscle isomyosin contained, in addition to slow-twitch light chain (LC) and HC-I isoforms, appreciable amounts of LC-2f, HC-IIa, and HC-IIb isoforms, and fast-twitch muscle isomyosin consisted of LC-2s and HC-I isoforms as well as fast-twitch LC and HC isoforms. Without consideration of HC- and slow-twitch alkali LC heterodimers, at least 31 possible isomyosins are derived from these findings on the subunit composition of isomyosins in human skeletal muscle.

Inhibition by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors of interleukin-6 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The effects of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors on interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined. Indomethacin and Y-9223, a novel cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, inhibited the increases in the IL-6 level in the culture medium of both mitogen-stimulated adherent cells and non-adherent cells fractionated from mononuclear cells. Northern blotting showed that the mitogen-induced increase in the expression of IL-6 mRNA was inhibited by indomethacin and Y-9223, indicating that these agents inhibit IL-6 biosynthesis. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and phenylbutazone also inhibited IL-6 production by adherent cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). There was, however, no direct relationship between inhibition of IL-6 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by these agents. The addition of PGE2 corresponding to the amount produced by adherent cells stimulated with LPS slightly increased IL-6 production by unstimulated adherent cells, but to a lower level than that reached with LPS. An anti-PGE2 antibody partially blocked IL-6 production by adherent cells stimulated with LPS. These results suggest that, in addition to the inhibition of PGE2 production, other mediators including cyclooxygenase products or other action mechanisms are involved in the inhibition of IL-6 production by these drugs.

Stimulation of biosynthesis of nerve growth factor by acidic fibroblast growth factor in cultured mouse astrocytes

Bovine acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF) dose-dependently stimulated the release of nerve growth factor (NGF) in a culture medium of mouse astrocytes. The NGF concentration in the medium started to increase compared to that of the control cultures 4 h later and was further sustained for 24 h when aFGF was contained. The content of NGF mRNA in the astrocytes treated with aFGF peaked at eightfold over the control level after 4 h. The astrocytes did not proliferate until after 72 h when treated with FGFs under the conditions employed. These results indicate that aFGF stimulates the biosynthesis of NGF in cultured astrocytes without promoting cell proliferation.

Arginase as an inhibitory principle in liver plasma membranes arresting the growth of various mammalian cells in vitro

Plasma membranes prepared from rat livers inhibited the in vitro growth of various mammalian cells including hepatoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner, showing almost complete arrest of cell growth at 0.1 mg protein/ml. Some of these cells tested, i.e., leukemia (L1210 and P388) and myeloma (P3-NS-1/1-Ag4-1) cells, were labile in the presence of plasma membranes (losing the viability), and CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells became round without detaching from the substratum. The culture medium preincubated with liver plasma membranes no longer supported the growth of hepatoma cells (AHI3 and AH66F). However, the 'conditioned' medium supplemented with L-arginine, supported the growth of the cells. Moreover, the addition of L-ornithine to the cultures containing plasma membranes markedly reduced the inhibitory effect of plasma membranes. The plasma membrane preparations were found to possess considerable arginase activity. There results seem to indicate the possible involvement of arginase in the inhibition of cell growth by liver plasma membranes.

Purification and characterization of two forms of cytochrome P-450 with omega-hydroxylase activities toward prostaglandin A and fatty acids from rabbit liver microsomes

Two forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-450), designated as P-450LPGA omega 1 and P-450LPGA omega 2, have been purified to specific contents of 17.9 and 11.1 nmol P-450/mg protein, respectively, from liver microsomes of rabbits treated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a peroxisomal proliferator. The purified P-450LPGA omega 1 and P-450LPGA omega 2 were found to have apparent molecular weights of 52,500 and 53,000, respectively. They showed absorption maxima at 451 and 450 nm in the carbon monoxide-difference spectra for their reduced forms, respectively. The two P-450s both efficiently catalyzed the omega-hydroxylation of prostaglandins A1 (PGA1) and A2 (PGA2), as well as the omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation of fatty acids such as laurate, myristate, and palmitate. In a reconstituted system, various metal ions such as Na+ and Mg2+ stimulated these reactions. The P-450s exhibited no detectable activity toward several xenobiotics tested. The two P-450s showed different peptide map patterns following limited proteolysis with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease or papain. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences (ALNPTRLPGSLSGLLQVAGL and ALSLTRLPGSFSGFLQAxGLLGLLL) of P-450LPGA omega 1 and P-450LPGA omega 2 were identical at 18/20 and 19/24 positions with that of the lung prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase from pregnant rabbits, respectively. An antibody against P-450LPGA omega 2 recognized a 52,000-53,000 molecular weight protein(s) in rabbit liver microsomes. The intensity of the immunoblot was significantly increased in liver microsomes from rabbits treated with DEHP, but not with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Capillary high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a novel nanoflow gradient generator

A type of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based on a novel nanoflow gradient generator (Asymptotic-Trace-10-Port-Valve (AT10PV) nanoGR generator) was developed and coupled with an electrospray ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ESI-IT-TOF MS). Stability of the nanoflow GR HPLC system was tested at flow rates of 20 and 50 nL/min by using a nanoflow meter. Average flow rates in a 2-h run were 51.2 nL/min with RSD 0.7% and 21.0 nL/min with RSD 1.8%. Repeatability of analysis of the nanoHPLC/ESI-IT-TOF MS system was also tested by injecting 1.0 microL of trypsin digested bovine serum albumin (BSA) (100 fmol) into a monolithic silica-ODS column (30 microm i.d., 150 mm in length) through a packed silica-ODS trapping column (particle size 5 microm, 150 microm i.d., 10 mm in length). At a flow rate of 50 nL/min, the result demonstrated a reasonably good repeatability of peak retention times (RSD: 0.32-1.1%) and base-ion peak areas (RSD: 4.4-6.6%).

Genesis of breast cancer in Japanese: a possible relationship between sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and serum lipid components

We investigated changes in the amount of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and the percentage of free estradiol (% FE2) during normal menstrual cycles in the sera of 8 young Japanese controls, and also the relation between the lipid components of serum and the serum level of SHBG in 250 normal Japanese controls aged 18-77 years. The amount of SHBG measured by IRMA was significantly higher in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase, whereas the % FE2 values remained constant throughout the menstrual cycle in 8 healthy young controls. These results suggest that the estrogen status in serum is constantly controlled by SHBG. The amount of SHBG was significantly correlated with the serum level of triglycerides (TG) in 250 normal Japanese controls. From these results, we postulate that the decrease in serum SHBG, probably caused by increased level of serum TG, leads to elevation of % FE2 and later to a status with a high risk of breast cancer.

Safracins, new antitumor antibiotics. III. Biological activity

Safracins A and B have antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro but no therapeutic activity in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Safracins A and B induce abnormal morphological changes in Echerichia coli cells. Tests with transplantable mice tumors demonstrate that safracins A and B inhibit the growth of P388 leukemia and IMC carcinoma.

Inhibition of endotoxin- and antigen-induced airway inflammation by fudosteine, a mucoactive agent

We evaluated the effect of a mucoactive agent (-)-(R)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxypropylthio) propionic acid (fudosteine), on airway inflammation using endotoxin- and antigen-induced models. Time courses of growth related oncogene/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (GRO/CINC-1) production, neutrophil migration and goblet cell hyperplasia were examined in endotoxin-induced rat airway inflammation. GRO/CINC-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased in response to intratracheal instillation of endotoxin and peaked within 4 h. Neutrophils in BALF and goblet cells on trachea peaked 24 and 96 h after endotoxin instillation, respectively. Fudosteine significantly inhibited increases in GRO/CINC-1 at 10-100 mg/kg, and neutrophils and goblet cells at 30 and 100 mg/kg. These results suggest that inflammatory events including neutrophil chemoattractant production and neutrophil migration play important roles for goblet cell hyperplasia in endotoxin-induced airway inflammation, and fudosteine inhibits goblet cell hyperplasia by inhibiting GRO/CINC-1 production and/or neutrophil migration. Furthermore, fudosteine (100 mg/kg) inhibited ovalbumin-induced eosinophil infiltration into BALF, suggesting it attenuates asthmatic inflammation.

Age effect on expression of myosin heavy and light chain isoforms in suspended rat soleus muscle

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that myosin heavy (MHC) and light chain (MLC) plasticity resulting from hindlimb suspension (HS) is an age-dependent process. By using an electrophoretic technique, the distribution of MHC and MLC isoforms was quantitatively evaluated in the soleus muscles from 3- or 12-wk-old rats after 1-3 wk of HS treatment was maintained. In normal 12- and 15-wk-old rats, the soleus muscles contained a predominance of MHCI ( approximately 94%) with small amounts of MHCIIa, but not MHCIId or MHCIIb. The suspended muscles of adult rats were characterized by the appearance of MHCIIb and MHCIId, the latter reaching approximately 6% after 3 wk of HS treatment. In contrast to changes in MHC, HS did not induce a transition in the MLC pattern in the soleus muscles from adult rats. Compared with adult rats, in juveniles HS had a much more pronounced effect on the shift toward faster MHC and MLC isoform expression. The soleus muscles of 6-wk-old rats after 3 wk of HS were composed of 37.0% MHCI, 19.1% MHCIIa, 23.7% MHCIId, and 20.2% MHCIIb. Changes in MLC isoforms consisted of an increase in MLC1f and MLC2f concomitant with a decrease in MLC2s. These results indicate the existence of a differential effect of HS on MHC and MLC transitions that appears to be age dependent. They also suggest that the suspended soleus muscles from young rats may acquire the intrinsic contractile properties that are intermediate between those in the normal soleus and typical fast-twitch skeletal muscles.

Principal involvement of cyclooxygenase-1-derived prostaglandins in the c-fos expression of the rat hind brain following visceral stimulation with acetic acid

We investigated the relationship between c-fos expression in the hind brain and peritoneal prostaglandin (PG) synthesis after visceronociceptive stimulation with acetic acid in rats. Time-course studies on the mRNA expression for c-fos in the hind brain and cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms in the peritoneal cells, as well as on the peritoneal 6-keto-PGF1alpha accumulation, after stimulation indicated that COX-1 but not COX-2 was responsible for the peritoneal synthesis of PGs which were suggested to evoke c-fos expression in the hind brain. Pharmacological experiments using mofezolac, a preferential inhibitor against COX-1, and NS-398, a selective inhibitor against COX-2, confirmed the involvement of COX-1 derived PGs in the induction of c-fos expression in the hind brain following the noxious stimulation.