Parasympathetic involvement in PAF-induced contraction in canine trachealis in vivo

Effects of PAF on excitatory neuro-effector transmission in dog airways

1. Effects of PAF on excitatory neuro-effector transmission in smooth muscle cells of mucosa-free trachea and epithelium-intact bronchiole of the dog were investigated, by isometric tension recording, microelectrode and double sucrose-gap methods. 2. PAF (10(-11)-10(-7) M) dose-dependently enhanced the amplitude of contraction evoked by repetitive field stimulations (10 stimuli at 20 Hz) in both tracheal and bronchiolar tissues. At higher concentrations PAF (> 10(-8) M) increased the amplitude of contraction to a greater extent in the bronchiole than in the trachea. 3. In both muscle tissues, in parallel to the amplitude of contraction, PAF markedly enhanced the amplitude of excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by a single field stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, with no change in the resting membrane potential or input membrane resistance of the smooth muscle cells. PAF (5 x 10(-7) M) enhanced the amplitude of e.j.p. to a greater extent in the bronchiole than in the trachealis. In contrast, lyso-PAF (10(-10)-10(-7) M) showed no effect on e.j.p. amplitude in bronchiolar tissues. At a high concentration (10(-7) M) lyso-PAF slightly enhanced the e.j.p. amplitude in tracheal tissue, however the lyso-PAF induced stimulation of e.j.p. amplitude in the trachea was small compared to that of PAF. 4. PAF (10(-7) M) had no effect on the membrane depolarization induced by acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-9)-10(-5) M) and carbachol (10(-9)-10(-5) M) in tracheal smooth muscle cells. 5. The PAF-antagonists CV3988 (5 x i0-7 M) or WEB2086 (5 x 10-7 M) significantly enhanced the e.j.p. amplitude themselves, PAF (5 x 10-8 M) further enhanced the ej.p. amplitude in the presence of WEB2086 (5 x l0-7 M) but not CV3988 (5 x 10-7 M). In contrast, the new PAF-antagonist, E 6123(5 x l0-8 M), did not affect the ej.p. amplitude itself, and completely inhibited the increase in ej.p. amplitude caused by 5 x 10-8 M PAF. On the other hand, in the presence of the Hi-antagonist,mepyramine, PAF (5 X 10-8 M) further enhanced the ej.p. amplitude.6. The leukotriene synthesis inhibitor AA-861 (10-6 M) or leukotriene antagonist ONO1078 (10-7 M)inhibited the increase in ej.p. amplitude caused by 5 X 10-8 M PAF, respectively.7. In the presence of AA-861 (10-6 M), leukotriene B4 (LTB4, 10-' M) or LTD4 (10-8 M) slightly, and LTC4 (10- M) markedly enhanced the ej.p. amplitude. In contrast, LTE4 (10-8 M) significantly suppressed the e.j.p. amplitude.8. PAF (5 x 10-8 M) attenuated the depression phenomena of ej.ps observed during double stimulus experiments at different time intervals (5-10 s), but had no effect on the summation of ej.ps during repetitive field stimulation at a high frequency (20 Hz) in the trachealis.9. These results indicate that PAF potentiates excitatory neuro-effector transmission mainly through stimulating the release of lipoxygenase products, mainly LTC4 in the dog airway smooth muscle tissues.

Inhaled budesonide fails to inhibit the PAF-induced increase in plasma leukotriene B4 in man

1. We studied the ability of inhaled budesonide to modulate PAF-induced acute effects in nine healthy nonsmoking volunteers. Responses in inflammatory cells and mediators in peripheral blood as well as in pulmonary function and circulation were monitored. 2. Inhalation of increasing doses of PAF (total cumulative dose of 500 micrograms) caused a rapid and profound decrease in circulating white blood cells, especially in granulocytes (P less than 0.01), which was turned to an increased number of these cells (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.025, respectively) in the blood samples taken 8 min after completion of the PAF challenge. No changes in the circulating platelets or their thromboxane production were found. Plasma concentrations of histamine or methylhistamine remained unchanged during PAF-inhalation, while plasma LTB4 tripled from the baseline level at 10 min (P less than 0.0005) and was returned to the pre-PAF value at 60 min. 3. PAF inhalation induced a bronchial obstruction (P less than 0.025), but no bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine was found in any of our subjects when measured 24 h after the PAF challenge. Furthermore, PAF caused a decrease in systolic blood pressure (P less than 0.05). 4. Budesonide pretreatment of 400 micrograms twice daily during the preceding 5 days had no effect on any PAF-induced events measured in our study. That fact may also contradict the role of bronchial resident or alveolar cells as a source of the PAF-induced LTB4 burst in plasma. 5. We conclude that in healthy volunteers inhaled PAF induces a marked increase in plasma LTB4, which is not inhibited by inhaled budesonide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5-HT1-like receptors mediate potentiation of cholinergic nerve-mediated contraction of isolated mouse trachea

While it had no effect on the resting tension of mouse tracheal segments, 5-HT (10(-8)-10(-4) M) potentiated concentration dependently the contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS). The maximal potentiation was 105 +/- 38% and the EC50 value was 1.4 +/- 0.6 x 10(-6) M (n = 6). The responsiveness of mouse trachea to acetylcholine was not altered by 5-HT (10(-5) M). The 5-HT1A,B antagonist pindolol (10(-6) M), the combined 5-HT2 and 5-HT1C receptor antagonist, ketanserin (10(-6) M), or the combined 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, methysergide (10(-6) M), all partially inhibited the effect of 5-HT on the twitch responses. Blockade of 5-HT3 receptors by GR 38032F (10(-6) M) did not affect the potentiation by 5-HT. Antagonism of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors by ICS 205,930 (3 x 10(-6) M) increased the potentiation of the twitch responses by 5-HT, this was probably due to a decrease of the baseline EFS-induced twitch response by ICS 205,930. Alkylation of the 5-HT2 receptor by phenoxybenzamine (3 x 10(-7) M) treatment did not significantly affect the potentiation of the twitch responses by 5-HT. The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, timolol (10(-6) M), and the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine (10(-6) M), did not influence the potentiation of the twitch responses by 5-HT, excluding the involvement of the adrenergic system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunoregulators in the nervous system

The nervous system, through the production of neuroregulators (neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuropeptides) can regulate specific immune system functions, while the immune system, through the production of immunoregulators (immunomodulators and immunopeptides) can regulate specific nervous system functions. This indicates a reciprocal communication between the nervous and immune systems. The presence of immunoregulators in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid is the result of local synthesis--by intrinsic and blood-derived macrophages, activated T-lymphocytes that cross the blood-brain barrier, endothelial cells of the cerebrovasculature, microglia, astrocytes, and neuronal components--and/or uptake from the peripheral blood through the blood-brain barrier (in specific cases) and circumventricular organs. Acute and chronic pathological processes (infection, inflammation, immunological reactions, malignancy, necrosis) stimulate the synthesis and release of immunoregulators in various cell systems. These immunoregulators have pivotal roles in the coordination of the host defense mechanisms and repair, and induce a series of immunological, endocrinological, metabolical and neurological responses. This review summarizes studies concerning immunoregulators--such as interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, interferons, transforming growth factors, thymic peptides, tuftsin, platelet activating factor, neuro-immunoregulators--in the nervous system. It also describes the monitoring of immunoregulators by the central nervous system (CNS) as part of the regulatory factors that induce neurological manifestations (e.g., fever, somnolence, appetite suppression, neuroendocrine alterations) frequently accompanying acute and chronic pathological processes.

The role of platelet-activating factor in asthma

There is a large body of in vitro, animal, and now human data that provide strong support for PAF as being an important mediator of asthma and airway hyperreactivity. Unfortunately, there is little direct, unequivocal evidence that this is so. Direct evidence will come from studies that test the effectiveness of potent, nontoxic, PAF receptor antagonists in patients with asthma. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the mechanism by which PAF produces bronchoconstriction and, in particular, airway hyperreactivity. Studies exploring the effect of PAF on inflammatory cell populations and functions in the lung, on other mediators (i.e., leukotrienes), and on the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nervous system in human subjects are needed. Finally, identification of the basis for the variable response to PAF in normal subjects and in patients with asthma should provide further insight into PAF's mechanism of action and the pathogenesis of asthma and airway hyperreactivity.

5-Hydroxytryptamine-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig: effect of 5-HT2 receptor activation on acetylcholine release

1. The bronchoconstrictor responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were studied in the guinea-pig to establish whether they are partly attributable to parasympathetic activation within the airways. 5-HT dose-response curves were constructed in anaesthetized and ventilated guinea-pigs pretreated with saline, or by bilateral cervical vagotomy or vagotomy plus atropine 3 mg kg-1, i.v. Vagotomy had no effect on 5-HT-induced bronchoconstriction but vagotomy plus atropine significantly reduced it. 2. To determine whether parasympathetic activation within the airways resulted from pre- or postganglionic stimulation, 5-HT dose-response curves were constructed for two groups of vagotomized guinea-pigs treated with hexamethonium 2 mg kg-1, or hexamethonium 2 mg kg-1, plus atropine 3 mg kg-1. Guinea-pigs treated with hexamethonium plus atropine experienced significantly less 5-HT-induced bronchoconstriction than those treated with hexamethonium alone. 3. To characterize the subtype of 5-HT receptors involved in the activation of the parasympathetic system by 5-HT, dose-response curves to 5-HT were constructed for four groups of vagotomized guinea-pigs treated with saline, 1 mg kg-1 of the 5-HT3 antagonist ICS 205-930, or either 0.01 or 0.1 mg kg-1 of the 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin. ICS 205-930 enhanced 5-HT-induced bronchoconstriction but 0.01 mg kg-1 ketanserin inhibited it significantly and 0.1 mg kg-1 ketanserin abolished it. To confirm the involvement of 5-HT2 receptors in these responses, we studied the effects in vagotomized guinea-pigs of atropine on the bronchoconstriction induced by the 5-HT2 agonist,x alpha-methyl-5-HT, infused at rates of 40 and 80ngkg-1s-'. At both rates, atropine significantly reduced the bronchoconstrictor responses to alpha-methyl-5-HT. 4. The above results indicate that 5-HT-induced bronchoconstriction is indeed partly mediated by parasympathetic activation within the airways. This activation is mediated by stimulation of 5-HT2 receptors which are probably located on the postganglionic parasympathetic nerve endings.

Regulatory pathways for the stimulation of canine tracheal ciliary beat frequency by bradykinin

1. The effects of bradykinin, a potent inflammatory nanopeptide, on tracheal ciliary beat frequency in vivo were investigated using barbiturate-anaesthetized beagles. Tracheal ciliary beat frequency was measured using heterodyne mode correlation analysis laser light scattering, a technique that does not require surgical intervention. 2. Aerosolized 10(-5) M-bradykinin in 0.9% saline administered for 3 min to eight barbiturate-anaesthetized beagles stimulated tracheal ciliary beat frequency from the baseline of 5.3 +/- 0.1 Hz to a maximum of 16.6 +/- 2.0 Hz, 8 min after aerosol delivery, and ciliary beat frequency remained above baseline for the following 35 min. 3. Intravenously injected hexamethonium bromide, ipratropium bromide or indomethacin did not change baseline tracheal ciliary beat frequency. That down-regulation of ciliary beat frequency below baseline values was not observed with either the neural or the cyclooxygenase blocking agents suggests that neither of these pathways is involved in the maintenance of the observed basal ciliary beat frequency. 4. Bradykinin-induced stimulation of tracheal ciliary beat frequency is blocked by hexamethonium bromide, ipratropium bromide or indomethacin. These data suggest that the stimulation of ciliary beat frequency by bradykinin acts through both cellular cyclooxygenase and parasympathetic pathways in series.

Immunomodulators and feeding regulation: a humoral link between the immune and nervous systems

Cells of the nervous and immune systems have specific receptors for humoral substances that originate in both systems. These elements establish a bidirectional information exchange network between the nervous and immune systems. In particular, neuroregulators (neurotransmitters and neuromodulators) can modulate specific immune system function(s) and immunoregulators (immunomodulators) can modulate specific nervous system function(s). Modulation of immune functions by neuroregulators has been receiving considerable attention; however, modulation of nervous system functions by immunomodulators has been little studied. The presence of immunomodulators in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid may represent local synthesis by astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells, intrinsic macrophages and blood-derived lymphocytes which cross the blood-brain barrier, or the concentration of substances derived from the peripheral blood. Acute and chronic inflammatory processes, malignancy, and immunological reactions stimulate the synthesis and release of immunomodulators in various cell systems. These immunomodulators have pivotal roles in the coordination of the host defense mechanisms and repair and induce a series of endocrine, metabolic, and neurologic responses. This paper focuses on the effects of immunomodulators (interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, tuftsin, platelet activating factor, and others) on the central nervous system (CNS), in particular, on feeding regulation. It is proposed that an immunomodulatory system regulates food intake by a direct action in the CNS through a specific neuro-immuno interaction. This regulatory system may be operative during acute and chronic disease.

Endogenous regulation of bronchomotor tone

Airway smooth muscle responses are elicited in a complex manner through a large variety of endogenous mediators. Mediators augment or inhibit bronchomotor tone at a variety of sites through numerous different mechanisms. Interactions occur among mediators and nerves, muscle, and circulating blood elements or respiratory mast cells. Airway smooth muscle tone further is regulated by postsynaptic mediator-mediator interactions. Substances may circulate through the blood from distal sites to reach their target organ, as with epinephrine in its effects on airway smooth muscle, or may be secreted directly onto airway smooth muscle, as with the secretory products of respiratory mast cells. Recent observations have indicated that some mediators elicit airway contraction at least in part by activating efferent parasympathetic nerves and/or platelets. Direct secretion of minute quantities of mediators from adjacent epithelium or from infiltrating leukocytes may be an essential component of airway hyperreactivity. Complex interactions between the complement and kallikrein cascades have been cited as possible mechanisms of airway hyperresponsiveness. Ultimately, bronchomotor tone is mediated postsynaptically by the availability of calcium to the contractile apparatus of the smooth muscle cell. A role for the phosphoinositide system in membrane transduction and for cyclic adenosine monophosphate in regulating calcium distribution for smooth muscle contraction has been implicated. Mediator-mediator interactions distal to the synaptic cleft have been shown to augment both force and duration of airway smooth muscle contraction in a synergistic fashion. The stimuli eliciting mediator and neurotransmitter secretion, their physiologic significance, and the homeostatic infrastructure of these interactions are areas of promising investigation that require further definition.