Effect of gefarnate on endogenous prostacyclin, prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane in water-immersed rats

Role of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome in stress-induced gastric injury

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The inflammasomes promote pro-caspase-1 cleavage, leading to processing of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β into its mature form. We investigated the role of the IL-1β and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in gastric injury in mice receiving water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS), focusing on the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/prostaglandin (PG) E₂ axis.

METHODS

To induce gastric injury, the mice were placed in a restraint cage and immersed in the water bath to the level of the xiphoid process. Protein levels of mature caspase-1 and IL-1β were assessed by western blotting.

RESULTS

Water-immersion restraint stress induced gastric injury with increase in IL-1β expression by activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Exogenous IL-1β attenuated the injury, whereas anti-IL-1β neutralizing antibody and IL-1β receptor antibody aggravated it. NLRP3^-/- and caspase-1^-/- mice enhanced the injury with reducing of mature IL-1β, and this aggravation was reduced by exogenous IL-1β supplementation. Toll-like receptor 4^-/- mice were hyporesponsive to WIRS in terms of mature IL-1β production. Rabeprazole attenuated the injury with preventing inflammasome activation. WIRS injured the stomach with promotion of COX-2 mRNA and PGE₂ production, and exogenous IL-1β enhanced these molecules, while IL-1β immunoneutralization exerted opposite effect. PGE₂ supplementation abolished the hypersensitivity in NLRP3^-/- and caspase-1^-/- mice through negative regulation of inflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome-derived IL-1β plays a protective role in stress-induced gastric injury via activation of the COX-2/PGE₂ axis. Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and gastric acid may be involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Gefarnate stimulates mucin-like glycoprotein secretion in conjunctival tissue and ameliorates corneal epithelial damage in animal dry-eye models

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gefarnate on mucin-like glycoprotein secretion in isolated rabbit conjunctival tissue, and on corneal epithelial damage in rabbit and cat dry-eye models.

Methods

Conjunctival tissue isolated from rabbits was treated with gefarnate. Mucin-like glycoprotein was detected in the culture supernatant by an enzyme-linked lectin assay. Gefarnate ointment was topically applied to eyes once daily for 7 days in the rabbit dry-eye model, in which the lacrimal glands, Harderian gland, and nictitating membrane were removed, or for 4 weeks in the cat dry-eye model, in which the lacrimal gland and nictitating membrane were removed. Corneal epithelial damage was evaluated by measurement of corneal permeability by rose bengal in the rabbit model or by fluorescein staining in the cat model.

Results

Gefarnate stimulated mucin-like glycoprotein secretion in conjunctival tissue in a dose-dependent manner. In the rabbit dry-eye model, application of gefarnate ointment to the eyes resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in rose bengal permeability in the cornea, with the effect being significant at concentrations of ≥0.3%. In the cat dry-eye model, application of gefarnate ointment resulted in a significant decrease in the corneal fluorescein staining score.

Conclusion

These results suggest that gefarnate stimulates in vitro secretion of mucin-like glycoprotein in conjunctival tissue and ameliorates corneal epithelial damage in animal dry-eye models. Gefarnate may therefore be effective for treating dry eye.

Effects of artichoke leaf extract on acute gastric mucosal injury in rats

The present study was designed to clarify the effects of an ethanol extract of artichoke leaf on acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. Oral administration of artichoke leaf extract dose-dependently prevented absolute ethanol-induced (125-500 mg/kg) or restraint plus water immersion stress-induced gastric mucosal injury (1000-2000 mg/kg). The artichoke leaf extract contains 1% cynaropicrin and 0.8% chlorogenic acid as main components and 70% dextrin as a vehicle. Cynaropicrin at doses of 1/100 of artichoke leaf extract [ethanol-induced mucosal injury: 5 mg/kg, per os (p.o.); stress-induced mucosal injury: 20 mg/kg, p.o.] also prevented gastric mucosal injury in both animal models. However, dextrin and chlorogenic acid at doses contained in the leaf extract were ineffective in both models. When artichoke leaf extract was given orally to normal rats, it (500-2000 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently increased gastric mucus content. In addition, it (125-500 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently prevented the decrease in gastric mucus content by absolute ethanol. When the effects of artichoke leaf extract on basal gastric acid secretion in rats were evaluated, it (500-2000 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently increased the volume of gastric juice in normal rats. However, it was ineffective in decreasing basal gastric acid secretion in normal rats. These results indicate that artichoke leaf extract is effective against acute gastritis and its beneficial effect is due to that of cynaropicrin. The gastric mucus-increasing action of artichoke leaf extract may be, at least in part, related to the anti-gastritic action of the extract.

Effect of Gefarnate on Acute Gastric Mucosal Lesion Progression in Rats Treated with Compound 48/80, a Mast Cell Degranulator, in Comparison with That of Teprenone

We have reported that teprenone (geranylgeranylacetone), an anti-ulcer drug, prevents acute gastric mucosal lesion progression in rats treated once with compound 48/80 (C48/80), a mast cell degranulator, possibly by suppressing mucus depletion, neutrophil infiltration, and oxidative stress in the gastric mucosa. Herein, we examined the preventive effect of gefarnate (geranyl farnesylacetate), an anti-ulcer drug, on acute gastric mucosal lesion progression in rats treated once with C48/80 (0.75 mg/kg, i.p.) in comparison with that of teprenone, because the chemical structure and anti-ulcer action of gefarnate are similar to those of teprenone. Gefarnate (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) administered orally at 0.5 h after C48/80 treatment, at which time gastric mucosal lesions appeared, reduced progressive gastric mucosal lesions at 3 h dose-dependently. At 3 h after C48/80 treatment, the gastric mucosa had decreased adherent mucus and hexosamine contents and increased myeloperoxdiase (an index of neutrophil infiltration) and xanthine oxidase activities and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (an index of lipid peroxidation) content. Post-administered gefarnate attenuated all these changes dose-dependently. These preventive effects of gefarnate were similar to those of teprenone at a dose of 200 mg/kg. Post-administered gefarnate did not affect the increases in serum serotonin and histamine concentrations and the decrease in gastric mucosal blood flow at 3 h after C48/80 treatment like teprenone. These results indicate that orally administered gefarnate prevents acute gastric mucosal lesion progression in C48/80-treated rats possibly by suppressing mucus depletion, neutrophil infiltration, and oxidative stress in the gastric mucosa like teprenone.

Effects of various mucosal protective drugs on diethyldithiocarbamate-induced antral ulcer in rats

This study was designed to determine the effects of exogenous Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and various mucosal protective agents against antral ulcer induced by diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), inhibitor of Cu,Zn-SOD. Exogenous Cu,Zn-SOD reduced ulcer formation and prevented a decrease in SOD activity in gastric mucosa. This result indicates that maintenance of mucosal SOD activity is essential to prevent the ulcerogenicity of DDC. Many mucosal protective drugs that increase blood flow, mucus secretion, and endogenous prostaglandin failed to prevent ulcer formation and decrease of mucosal SOD activity. Rebamipide, however, significantly reduced ulcerogenesis and maintained mucosal SOD activity. This suggests that rebamipide has new protective effects on gastric mucosa.

The relationship between plasma cortisol and gastric mucosa prostaglandin levels in rats with stress ulcers

A correlation between the levels of plasma cortisol, gastric mucosal prostaglandins and the degree of gastric ulceration produced by stress in rats was examined. Four groups of rats were evaluated. Group A, the cold stressed group; group B, their controls; group C, those receiving intraperitoneal indomethacin; and group D, those receiving intraperitoneal saline. Group A developed stress ulcers and their gastric mucosal prostaglandin levels (prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin levels, as measured by its stable metabolite 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF-1 alpha, but not thromboxane) were significantly reduced when compared with their respective non-stressed controls. The plasma cortisol levels in both group A and B increased slightly in the first hour but there was no statistical difference between the two groups and there was no change at 2, 3 or 4 h of stress. Group C (indomethacin) also developed ulcers and had low gastric mucosal prostaglandin levels when compared with group D (saline). The plasma cortisol levels did not alter in either group C or D. It has been postulated that stress ulcers may involve the depletion of gastric mucosal prostaglandin levels which, in turn, may be a consequence of a higher plasma cortisol level. A decrease in gastric prostaglandins independent of any change of plasma cortisol levels was demonstrated in this study and the mechanism of production of stress gastric ulcers remains obscure.

Effect of indomethacin, tiaprofenic acid and dicrofenac on rat gastric mucosal damage and content of prostacyclin and prostaglandin E2

Gastric ulcerogenicity and depletion of endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) content induced by tiaprofenic acid, dicrofenac and indomethacin were examined using the same antiinflammatory effective doses. Male Wistar rats were given each of these drugs intragastrically 24, 18, and 3 hrs before sacrifice in the following doses (mg/kg): indomethacin (0.8, 4 and 20); tiaprofenic acid (1.2, 6 and 30); dicrofenac (0.8, 4 and 20). Endogenous prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGE2 in fundic mucosa were determined by radioimmunoassay. The three compounds produced fundic mucosal lesions in a dose-dependent manner. However, tiaprofenic acid and dicrofenac were both less potent than indomethacin in producing gastric mucosal lesions at similar antiinflammatory doses. Mucosal PGE2 content was abolished by the three compounds in the following doses (mg/kg): indomethacin (4 and 20); tiaprofenic acid (6 and 30); dicrofenac (20). Mucosal PGI2 was maintained around 50% of the control value in rats given tiaprofenic acid in a dose of 6 mg/kg or dicrofenac in a dose of 4 mg/kg, while indomethacin in a dose of 4 mg/kg markedly reduced mucosal PGI2 to 17% of the control value. In larger doses, tiaprofenic acid and dicrofenac were also significantly less potent in reducing mucosal PGI2 than indomethacin. These results suggest that the difference in ulcerogenicity between indomethacin and the other two compounds was closely related to their potency in decreasing PGI2 in the gastric (fundic) mucosa.