Inhibition by prostacyclin and carbacyclins of endothelin-induced DNA synthesis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Effects of prostacyclin and carbacyclins on endothelin-induced DNA synthesis were investigated in vascular smooth muscle cells. DNA synthesis was estimated by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Five carbacyclins used in this report were 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(S)-3-hydroxy-1-octenyl]bicyclo [3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl) pentanoic acid (TEI-7165), methyl 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(S)-3-hydroxy-1-octenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3- yl]pentanoate (TEI-9090), 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(3S, 5S)-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-1-nonenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl)penta noic acid (TEI-9063), methyl 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(3S, 5S)-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-1- nonenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl)pentanoate (TEI-1324), 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(S)-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1- octenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl] pentanoic acid (TEI-3356). Prostacyclin and the carbacyclins inhibited the endothelin-induced DNA synthesis within the nanomolar range. These results suggest that prostacyclin and carbacyclins are possibly effective in inhibiting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells under some situations in vivo.

Vascular smooth muscle contraction induced by Na+ channel activators, veratridine and batrachotoxin

The effects of the sodium channel activators veratridine and batrachotoxin on isolated rat aorta were investigated. Veratridine caused gradual contraction, independent of the presence of endothelium, with an EC50 of 35 microM. Batrachotoxin (1 microM) also induced contraction. Both effects were completely inhibited by the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 microM). The veratridine (60 microM)-induced contraction was inhibited by nifedipine (0.1 microM). In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, veratridine (60 microM) did not cause contraction. Sodium nitroprusside (80 nM), acetylcholine (10 microM) and isoproterenol (1 microM) caused relaxation of rings precontracted with veratridine (60 microM). An inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) synthase, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (0.65 mM), enhanced the veratridine-induced contraction in rings with an intact endothelium, which suggests that EDRF was being released during the veratridine-induced contraction. These results show that the activation of sodium channels on smooth muscle cells induces a contraction that is probably mediated by Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

Synergistic stimulation of prostaglandin E2 release by epidermal growth factor and a tumor promoter anthralin from primary cultures of mouse epidermal cells

The tumor promoter anthralin stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and arachidonic acid release from primary cultures of mouse epidermal cells. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) hardly stimulated PGE2 release by itself; however, a combination of anthralin and EGF synergistically stimulated PGE2 release. Neither anthralin, EGF nor EGF plus anthralin affected the incorporation of arachidonic acid into cellular phospholipids at least up to 2 hr after the stimulation by these agents. In the presence of EGF, however, [3H]arachidonic acid in the medium decreased substantially 4-8 hr after the addition of this agent, indicating that EGF suppresses [3H]arachidonic acid release and stimulates the incorporation of [3H]arachidonic acid into the cells during this time period. Cellular cyclooxygenase activity was increased by treating the cells either with anthralin or EGF, and it was synergistically increased by EGF plus anthralin. Both cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited the increase in cyclooxygenase activity caused by EGF plus anthralin. These results indicate that the synergistic stimulation of PGE2 release caused by EGF plus anthralin is due to a synergistic stimulation of arachidonic acid release (in the early phase of stimulation) and a synergistic increase in cyclooxygenase activity, probably a synergistic induction of cyclooxygenase, by these agents.

Surgical treatment of advanced thyroid carcinoma invading the trachea

Operative methods, in relation to the completeness of resection and surgical results, and postoperative complications, in relation to operative methods, were discussed in 60 patients with advanced thyroid carcinoma in whom tumor invading the trachea was resected along with thyroid carcinoma. Laryngotracheal anastomosis was performed in 41 patients and tracheotracheal anastomosis in 19 patients. Complete resection was performed in 22 patients in the former group and in 12 patients in the latter group. Three-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates in patients undergoing complete resection were 87.0%, 78.1%, and 78.1%, respectively. Those for patients undergoing incomplete resection were 64.9%, 43.7%, and 24.3%, respectively. The locations of remaining tumor were the tracheal stump in patients in whom resection was incomplete. In four patients with esophageal invasion, the muscular layer of the esophagus was resected. Three of these patients had good postoperative results. Postoperative complications consisted of stenosis at the anastomosis in two patients, temporary mis-swallowing in three patients, temporary lower pharyngeal stenosis in one patient, temporary vocal cord edema in one patient, and tetany in two patients.

Active site of mu-conotoxin GIIIA, a peptide blocker of muscle sodium channels

The amino acid sequence of mu-conotoxin GIIIA (otherwise called geographutoxin I), a peptide having 22 amino acid residues with three disulfide bridges, was modified by replacing each residue with Ala or Lys to elucidate its active center for blocking sodium channels of skeletal muscle. NMR and CD spectra were virtually identical between native and modified toxins, indicating the similarity of their conformation including disulfide bridges. The inhibitory effect of these modified peptides on twitch contractions of the rat diaphragm showed that Arg at the 13th position and the basicity of the molecule are crucial for the biological action. The segment Lys11-Asp12-Arg13 has been reported to be flexible (Lancelin, J.-M., Kohda, D., Tate, S., Yanagawa, Y., Abe, T., Satake, M., and Inagaki, F. (1991) Biochemistry, in press), and this may represent a clue for the subtle fit of Arg13 to the specific site of sodium channels. Since known ligands to sodium channels, such as tetrodotoxin, anthopleulin-A, etc., contain guanidino groups as a putative binding moiety, Arg may be a general residue for peptide toxins to interact with the receptor site on sodium channels.

Regulations of male-dominant P-450Md mRNA in rat liver by hormonal factors and xenobiotics

Male-dominant P-450Md mRNA was undetectable in the livers of newborn rats. In female rat livers, the mRNA appeared at 17 days of age and then decreased to very low levels in the adult periods. The level of P-450Md mRNA in female rats was increased by phenobarbital or dexamethasone treatment, whereas the level in the males was depressed by methylcholanthrene. Hypophysectomy decreased the level of P-450Md mRNA in male rat livers, and continuous infusion or twice-daily injections of growth hormone to hypophysectomized rats caused further suppression or clear restoration, respectively, of the mRNA level.

[Tracheal surgery to preserve or improve pulmonary and laryngeal functions]

One hundred and two patients underwent tracheal surgery to preserve or improve pulmonary and laryngeal functions. For pre- and post-operative functional examinations of tracheal stenotic patients, the flow volume curve and frequency analysis of tracheal stenotic sounds were very useful. As a results of tracheal surgery in 76 malignant cases, vocal cord stenosis due to bilateral laryngeal nerve paralysis was occurred in 21 patients. For vocal cord stenosis, T tube insertion was very effective and we were able to close the orifice of tracheostomy in 11 out of 15 cases by this method.

Purification of hepatic N-hydroxyarylamine sulfotransferases and their regulation by growth hormone and thyroid hormone in rats

From liver cytosols of male Sprague-Dawley rats, two N-hydroxyarylamine sulfotransferases (HASTs) which sulfate N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and a phenolsulfotransferase (PST-I) have been purified about 290-, 690-, and 210-fold, respectively, by the use of DEAE-anion exchange, Blue-Sepharose CL-6B, DEAE-HPLC, and ATP-agarose affinity chromatography. All three enzymes showed almost the same molecular weight of 33 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In Western blots using antibody raised against HAST I, the two HASTs, but not PST-I, were detected. The content of total HAST in male rats was estimated as 4-5 micrograms/mg cytosolic protein, about 4 times higher than that in female rats. Direct comparison of the DEAE-HPLC elution profiles of cytosol showed that HAST I and HAST II were male-dominant and male-specific, respectively, in their expression in the livers. Hypophysectomy decreased the level of HAST by 60% in male rats, but had no obvious effect in female rats. Intermittent injection of growth hormone to mimic the male secretory pattern raised the content in hypophysectomized rats of both sexes close to that in intact male rats, while the continuous infusion of growth hormone to mimic the female secretory pattern showed limited effects. In addition, the administration of triiodothyronine stimulated HAST in hypophysectomized rats of both sexes, and the extent of stimulation was nearly the same as observed in the male-type growth hormone treatment. PST-I, in contrast to HAST, showed no clear sex-related difference in hepatic content, and was not apparently affected by growth hormone or triiodothyronine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case of acute myocardial infarction due to coronary spasm]

The patient was a 47 year-old man, who has been known to have effort angina since September 1989. His exercise stress ECG has revealed ST elevation in V2-V4 with maximum exercise. He experienced severe chest pain lasting for an hour on the way to his office in the early morning on November 16, 1989, and was admitted to our hospital. His ECG and laboratory findings indicated typical acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction, but the coronary arteriography (CAG) which was performed 7 hours after the onset showed no significant stenotic lesion. After administrating nitrate and calcium antagonist, he has had no attack of angina pectoris and his exercise stress test has revealed no ST-T changes on his ECG. 1 month later, while antianginal drugs were discontinued in order to perform an ergonovine stress test, the patient frequently complained of left anterior chest pain with remarkable ST elevation in precordial leads on his ECG. The CAG at chronic stage revealed that there was a 99% stenosis at Segment 6 of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) which was supplied with good collateral flow from the right coronary artery. The LAD was completely occluded at Segment 6 after intracoronary administration of ergonovine maleate 0.005 mg to the left coronary artery. After the intracoronary infusion of isosorbide dinitrate, there was no significant stenosis seen in the LAD except the minimum wall irregularity at Segment 6. These findings suggested that coronary spasm might play a major role of the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in this case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case of quadricuspid aortic valve associated with coronary arterial legion]

A case of quadricuspid aortic valve is reported in a patient with coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms. A 54-year-old male who had undergone aortic replacement because of abdominal aortic aneurysms three years before presentation was readmitted due to complaints of angina pectoris and palpitations. Aortography and coronary arteriography revealed severe aortic regurgitation and proximal occlusion of LAD and RCA. Surgical correction consisted of aortic valve replacement with a Björk-Shilely valve and coronary revascularization of LAD. During the operation, a quadricuspid aortic valve with one smaller and three larger cusps that showed mild myxomatous degeneration without dystrophic calcification and normal coronary arterial orifices were noted. Accordingly, severe aortic regurgitation may have resulted from the dysfunction of congenital malformed cusps and acquired sclerotic coronary disease was the main cause of the chest pain.

Difference in the susceptibility of two phenobarbital-inducible forms, P450IIB1 and P450IIB2, to thyroid hormone- and growth hormone-induced suppression in rat liver: phenobarbital-inducible P450IIB2 suppression by thyroid hormone acting directly, but not through the pituitary system

Suppression of two major phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450s, P450IIB1 and P450IIB2, by thyroid hormone was studied and compared with growth hormone (GH)-induced suppression in rats in vivo and hepatocytes in primary culture in vitro. Treatment of adult male rats with 50 micrograms/kg triiodothyronine (T3) reduced the constitutively expressed amounts of P450IIB1 (up to 1 pmol/mg of protein) and P450IIB2 (2-5 pmol/mg of protein) to 42% and 3% of their levels in nontreated controls. Thyroidectomy increased the hepatic contents of P450IIB2 (to levels of 50-80 pmol/mg of protein) and, to a lesser extent, P450IIB1 (1-5 pmol/mg of protein) in male and female rats. Supplement of T3 to thyroidectomized rats reversed the increased contents to levels similar to those observed in normal rats. Hypophysectomy also increased both P450IIB1 and P450IIB2 protein, and their levels in both sexes were similar to that of P450IIB2 in thyroidectomized rats. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with T3 as well as human GH suppressed hepatic contents of P450IIB1 and P450IIB2. In a hepatocyte culture including 2 mM phenobarbital, T3 and GH suppressed both P450IIB1 and P450IIB2. Other thyroid hormone derivatives, including thyroxine, D-T3, and reversed T3, also showed suppressive effects, in parallel with the potencies for their stimulatory action that have been reported. These results indicate that thyroid hormone may suppress both P450IIB1 and P450IIB2 by a direct effect on the liver, but not by an indirect effect through the modulation of pituitary GH synthesis. The high susceptibility of hepatic P450IIB2 to thyroid hormone-induced suppression also indicates that constitutive and phenobarbital-induced levels of P450IIB2 are suppressively regulated preferentially by thyroid hormone, in contrast to the high susceptibility to GH of P450IIB1 in rat liver. In addition, a difference in the suppressive mechanisms of thyroid hormone and GH was suggested by the difference in susceptibility to cycloheximide.

Inhibitory regulation of serum factor(s)-caused ornithine decarboxylase induction by the protein kinase C system in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells

Replacement of the culture medium with fresh medium containing 10% fetal calf serum caused ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. Two peaks of ODC activity were observed at 5 and 14 hr after the medium replacement. The peak activity observed at 5 hr was more prominent than that at 14 hr. The first peak of ODC induction was suppressed by a potent protein kinase C activator, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), in a concentration-dependent manner. The second peak, however, was not suppressed by TPA. Other potent protein kinase C activators, such as mezerein and 12-O-retinoylphorbol-13-acetate, also suppressed the first peak of ODC induction. Synthetic diacylglycerols, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, did not inhibit the serum factor(s)-caused ODC induction. Phorbol-13-acetate, an inactive phorbol ester, also failed to inhibit the ODC induction. The growth of A431 cells was slightly suppressed by TPA. In protein kinase C down-regulated cells, TPA failed to inhibit the serum factor(s)-caused ODC induction. These results suggest that the serum factor(s)-caused ODC induction in A431 cells is negatively regulated by the protein kinase C system, which may not be activated by exogenous diacylglycerols.

Involvement of prostaglandin E2 in the tumor promoter phorbol ester-caused increase in epidermal cholesterol sulfotransferase activity

A single topical application of 10 nmol TPA to mouse skin caused an increase in epidermal cholesterol sulfotransferase activity, a squamous differentiation associated enzyme. A topical application of indomethacin (1.2 mumol), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 10 min before TPA application markedly inhibited the above TPA action. Concurrent application of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with indomethacin reversed the inhibitory effect of indomethacin. PGF2 alpha, however, failed to reverse the inhibition caused by indomethacin. Both indomethacin and PGE2 alone did not change epidermal cholesterol sulfotransferase activity significantly. These results indicate that PGE2 plays a significant role in the mechanism of TPA-caused increase in cholesterol sulfotransferase activity in mouse epidermis.

A gene structure of testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase (P450IIIA)

Genomic clones of a rat testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase have been isolated and characterized as the first gene (P450/6 beta A) among P450IIIA subfamily. This gene spans about 25Kb and consists of 13 exons, which is the largest number of exons among cytochrome P-450 genes reported previously. The nucleotide sequence of the exon region showed high similarity to those of P450PCN2 and P450PCN1 cDNA (Gonzalez, F.J. et al. (1987) Mol. Cell. Biol. 2969-2974), but several replacements and deletions of nucleotide were found between the P450/6 beta A gene and both cDNAs, indicating the existence of multiple P450IIIA genes in rats.

Suppressive effect of SUN1165 on supraventricular tachycardia

The electrophysiologic properties of SUN1165 and its suppressive effect on supraventricular tachycardia were assessed in 14 patients, nine with atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) and five with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). This new agent prolonged the PR interval and QRS duration but did not alter the QT interval or the corrected QT interval. It did not alter the sinus cycle length or sinus node recovery time. The drug prolonged the AH interval, HV interval, and intraatrial conduction time but did not change the effective refractory periods of the right atrium or right ventricle. SUN1165 prevented the induction of tachycardia in six of nine patients with AVRT by a complete retrograde block of the accessory pathway and prevented AVNRT in four of five patients by a complete retrograde block of the fast atrioventricular nodal pathway as well. We conclude that SUN1165 is very effective in preventing AVRT or AVNRT. Larger studies with more patients are warranted.

Cytochrome P-450 human-2 (P-450IIC9) in mephenytoin hydroxylation polymorphism in human livers: differences in substrate and stereoselectivities among microheterogeneous P-450IIC species expressed in yeasts

The cDNA of a P-450 human-2 and the two other closely related cDNAs, MP-8 (two deduced amino acids substituted) and lambda hPA6 (two deduced amino acids deleted) were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, and their catalytic and chemical properties were compared to identify which cDNA encodes a major S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase in human livers. In immunoblots, P-450 human-2 cDNA-derived protein in yeasts was stained at the position identical with P-450 human-2 purified from liver and a major protein in microsomes of 19 Japanese livers. MP-8- and lambda hPA6-derived proteins were immunostained at positions near, but distinct from P-450 human-2, and were not detected in those 19 livers. All three proteins expressed in yeasts catalyzed hydroxylation of mephenytoin, hexobarbital, benzo[a]pyrene and tolbutamide, although the rates of the hydroxylation of most of the drugs by P-450 human-2 were higher than those of the two others. In addition, these expressed proteins showed clear differences in the hydroxylation of chiral substrates: P-450 human-2 catalyzed the hydroxylation of S-mephenytoin five times faster than that of the R-enantiomer. Similar high enantioselectivities were also observed on the hydroxylation of R- and S-hexobarbital. However, MP-8- and lambda hPA6-derived proteins catalyzed hydroxylation of these two drugs with less or almost no stereoselectivity. These results indicate that only a few amino acid alterations cause dramatic changes in both the chemical and catalytic properties of P-450 human-2.

Potentiation by a sodium channel activator of effects of lithium ion on cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP and inositol phosphates

The effects of the lithium ion (Li+) on receptor-mediated synthesis of second messengers were determined, when cellular sodium channels were quiescent or excited, using the murine neuroblastoma clone (N1E-115). In this clone, lithium inhibited the receptor-mediated synthesis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP and it also increased the accumulation of inositol phosphates by a receptor-mediated process. When veratridine (20 microM) excited the sodium channel, the effects of lithium were potentiated. However, tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, completely prevented this potentiation. These results suggest that when neurons are depolarizing actively and intraneuronal levels of lithium increase by entry through the sodium channel, lithium has a more potent intracellular effect. As a result, lithium would have more potent and selective effects in those pathologically-active neurons underlying manic-depressive disorder.