Selective Bronchodilators from 1-(5′-Oxohexyl)xanthines

A series of twenty one 1-(5′-oxohexyl)xanthines substituted with alkyl chains at the N 3 and N 7 positions of the xanthine nucleus were prepared and their relaxant activity in guinea-pig isolated tracheal muscle and positive chronotropic activity in isolated right atrium of guinea-pig were compared. The tracheal relaxant activities were markedly increased with alkyl chain length at the N 3 position, but decreased by the N 7 alkylation. The positive chronotropic activities in the right atrium were increased by introduction of an n-propyl group at the N 3 position but decreased by substitution of longer alkyl chains, and the action on the heart was diminished by N 7 substitution. The activities of compounds on cAMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) and binding of [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine were measured in the homogenate of tracheal muscle and the membrane preparation of cerebral cortex, respectively. No relationship among tracheal muscle relaxant activity, cAMP-PDE inhibitory activity and adenosine antagonism of these xanthines was observed, and other action mechanisms should be considered for their relaxant activities. This study indicated that N 3 alkylation is important for the selectivity for tracheal muscle, while the introduction of long alkyl chains such as n-butyl and n-pentyl groups at the N 3 and N 7 positions diminished the potency for the right atrium in guinea-pigs. 3-n-Pentyl- and 7-methy]-3-n-pentyl-1-(5′-oxohexyl)xanthines showed much higher bronchoselectivity than oxpentifylline and theophylline.

Effects of San'o-shashin-to and the constituent herbal medicines on theophylline-induced increase in arterial blood pressure of rats

San'o-shashin-to, composed of Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma and Rhei Rhizoma (volume ratio = 1:1:1), reduced an increase in arterial blood pressure of anesthetized rats induced by theophylline (5 mg/kg, i.v.). The hypotensive effect of San'o-shashin-to was produced in a dose dependent manner and was maximum at its 0.5 g/kg. Then the constituent herbal medicines were examined for their possible hypotensive effect. Scutellariae Radix of 0.2 g/kg slightly decreased in the blood presure. Rhei Rhizoma of 0.2 g/kg decreased in the blood pressure and the hypotensive effect was significantly produced even at the dose of 0.05 g/kg, while Coptidis Rhizoma had little effect. Among fractions of San'o-shashin-to separated by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography, the 50% methanol-eluted fraction had a large hypotensive effect. The 50% methanol-eluted fraction of Scutellariae Radix and Rhei Rhizoma were also effective and, especially, that of Rhei Rhizoma had a large hypotensive effect. In isometric tension study, Scutellariae Radix and Rhei Rhizoma (10-30 microg/ml) slightly exerted contractile and relaxant effects, respectively, on the phenylephrine-contracted endothelium-intact rat thoracic aorta. Coptidis Rhizoma (1-10 microg/ml) caused both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxantion. These results suggest that the hypotensive effect of San'o-shashin-to is not mediated by the direct action on blood vessel but by other actions. Some components in Scutellariae Radix and Rhei Rhizoma, especially in the latter may play a main role in the hypotensive effect.

C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene have no effect on iron overload disorders in Japan

OBJECTIVE

The gene responsible for hereditary hemochromatosis close to the human leukocyte antigen A locus was previously identified and designated as HFE. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of two mutations, C282Y and H63D of HFE, in Japanese patients with hepatic iron overload.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We examined C282Y and H63D in 11 patients with primary hemochromatosis, 94 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 54 patients with miscellaneous liver diseases, and 151 healthy volunteers. The HFE gene region of DNA samples extracted from peripheral leukocytes was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Restriction enzyme analysis was performed using SnaBI for C282Y and BclI for H63D. Direct sequence analysis was then performed when products suggested the presence of a mutation.

RESULTS

All the subjects studied were free from C282Y. None of the patients with hemochromatosis had H63D. One patient with chronic hepatitis C was homozygous, and 4 patients were heterozygous for H63D. Two patients with alcoholic liver disease were heterozygous for H63D. The prevalence of chromosomes with H63D was 6/188 (3.2%) in patients with chronic hepatitis C, 2/108 (1.9%) in patients with miscellaneous liver diseases, and 8/302 (2.6%) in healthy volunteers. These differences were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that neither C282Y nor H63D in HFE affect Japanese patients with hemochromatosis or chronic hepatitis C.

Body iron stores and iron restoration rate in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C as measured during therapeutic iron removal revealed neither increased body iron stores nor effects of C282Y and H63D mutations on iron indices

Information on the level of iron stores in chronic hepatitis C is clinically important because its reduction is technically simple and therapeutically effective. This study was performed to measure the levels of iron stores from the total amounts of hemoglobin removed during iron reduction therapy. The C282Y and H63D mutations of HFE gene were analyzed in 94 patients. All of the patients were negative for C282Y mutation. One patient was homozygous, and 4 patients were heterozygous for H63D mutation. The body iron stores and iron restoration rate were measured in 59 patients in serial courses of iron reduction therapy. Mean values of body iron stores in the two groups with and without H63D mutation were 890 and 606 mg, while those of iron restoration rate were 1.85 and 1.52 mg/day, respectively. None of the indices of iron metabolism were different from the reference values measured similarly in healthy subjects, suggesting that the iron deposition in chronic hepatitis C is limited to the liver, probably due to changes in the iron distribution in tissues.

Effects of 9 Kampo medicines clinically used in hypertension on hemodynamic changes induced by theophylline in rats

We examined the effects of 9 kinds of Kampo medicines, which are clinically used for the treatment of hypertension, on anesthetized rats with increases in arterial blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral blood flow induced by theophylline (5 mg/kg, i.v.) that were partially or completely mediated by endogenous catecholamines. Each Kampo medicine (1 g/kg) was intraduodenaly administered. Shinbu-to caused a severe disturbance of the arterial blood pressure. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Oren-gedoku-to, San'o-shashin-to and Dai-jyoki-to had hypotensive effects, while Hachimi-jio-gan, Gosha-jinki-gan, Dai-saiko-to and Choto-san did not have such an effect. Moreover, Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to attenuated the heart rate. In Oren-gedoku-to, San'o-shashin-to and Dai-jyoki-to, a reduction in peripheral blood flow was observed. These results suggest that Saiko-ka-ryukotsuborei-to, Oren-gedoku-to, San'o-shashin-to and Dai-jyoki-to are ameliorative to the hypertension in sympathetic system dominance and Shinbu-to is occasionally dangerous to it.

Effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, a Japanese Kampo medicine, on tachycardia and central nervous system stimulation induced by theophylline in rats and mice

Effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (SRBT) on theophylline-induced tachycardia in anesthetized rats and theophylline-induced locomotion and convulsions in mice were examined. An intraduodenal administration of SRBT (1 g/kg) prevented theophylline (5 mg/kg, i.v.)-induced tachycardia in rats. SRBT also attenuated an increase in arterial blood pressure with a slow reduction in heart rate of rats treated with theophylline, with no influence on the plasma level of theophylline. However, SRBT did not change the beating rate of right atrium isolated from rats in the absence or presence of theophylline or isoproterenol. The locomotor activity of theophylline in mice was reduced by the treatment with SRBT. Furthermore, the latency of convulsions in mice induced by administration of theophylline at a higher dose (240 mg/kg, i.p.) was prolonged by treatment with SRBT (1 g/kg, p.o.) and seven out of fifteen mice were saved from death due to convulsions. These results suggest that theophylline-induced tachycardia and central nervous stimulation are suppressed by SRBT and that SRBT may reduce the undesirable actions of theophylline on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

Effects of adrenergic and nitrergic blockade on theophylline-induced increase in peripheral blood flow in rat ear

A bolus injection of theophylline produced a significant increase in peripheral blood flow in anesthetized rat ear, monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry, with increases in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. These effects were attenuated by previous treatment with reserpine, but reserpine had no effect on the blood flow increase produced by acetylcholine. A dose of propranolol, which caused attenuation of the theophylline-induced increase in heart rate, did not change the peripheral blood flow. The higher dose of propranolol, which nearly canceled the increases in blood pressure and heart rate, caused attenuation of the blood flow increase but did not cancel it. However, the theophylline-induced flow increase was completely reversed by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, which alone had no effect, without any change in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Treatment of the rats with the dose of inhibitor slightly and significantly reduced the response of peripheral blood flow to acetylcholine. The other isomer, NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester, and the other inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, did not have such an effect. These results suggest that the flow increase is due to an independent effect on the heart with modification by autonomic reflexes and involves the adrenergic and nitrergic pathways.

Negative inotropic action of denbufylline through interfering with the calcium channel independently of its PDE IV inhibitory activity in guinea pig ventricle papillary muscles

The inotropic actions of xanthine derivatives with long alkyl chains were investigated in guinea pig ventricular papillary muscle. A potent and nonselective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, elicited a positive inotropy and inhibited the negative inotropic effects of calcium channel inhibitors, as did a selective PDE III inhibitor, amrinone, and these effects were canceled by a protein kinase inhibitor, N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-89). However, 1,3-di-n-butyl-7-(2'oxopropyl)xanthine (denbufylline) and 1-n-butyl-3-n-propylxanthine (XT-044), which have potent and selective PDE IV-inhibitory activities, showed negative inotropic actions that became more potent in the presence of H-89. Denbufylline abolished the late restoration phase induced by ryanodine. This xanthine derivative attenuated the effects of both the calcium channel acting agents Bay K 8644 and verapamil, without interaction with caffeine and dihydropyridine calcium channel inhibitors, and denbufylline had little direct influence on the specific binding of [(3)H]azidopine and [(3)H]desmethoxyverapamil to cardiac membranes. A nonxanthine PDE IV inhibitor, Ro 20-1724, did not affect the inotropic actions of calcium channel inhibitors. The attenuation by denbufylline or XT-044 of the negative inotropic action of verapamil was not influenced by treatment with H-89. These results suggest that in the ventricular papillary muscle, these xanthine derivatives elicit negative inotropy by acting on a verapamil-sensitive site of the calcium channel without involving their PDE-inhibitory activity.

A xanthine derivative denbufylline inhibits negative inotropic response to verapamil in guinea pig ventricular papillary muscles, independent of its phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity

A phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, amrinone, inhibited both the negative inotropic actions of verapamil and nicardipine in guinea pig ventricular papillary muscle; this effect was canceled by the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89. The PDE IV inhibitor 1,3-di-n-butyl-7-(2'-oxopropyl)xanthine (denbufylline), which elicited a negative inotropic action by itself, attenuated the action of verapamil up to 10 microM, without any interaction with nicardipine. The attenuation by denbufylline was not influenced by H-89. This suggests that in the ventricular papillary muscle, denbufylline acts on some verapamil-sensitive site(s) in the membrane and interferes with the calcium channel function without involvement of its PDE inhibitory activity.

Structure-activity relationships of alkylxanthines: alkyl chain elongation at the N1- or N7-position decreases cardiotonic activity in the isolated guinea pig heart

Relationships between the alkyl substitutions (C1-C6) and cardiac inotropic activities of xanthine derivatives were studied in isolated guinea pig heart muscles. Most of the alkylxanthines exhibited positive inotropic activity on the left atrium, which was increased with an elongation of alkyl chain at the N3-position but decreased by substitution of a long alkyl group at the N1- or N7-position of the xanthine skeleton. Although positive inotropic activity in the right ventricular papillary muscle was also increased by longer alkyl groups at the N3-position, the inotropic activity became negative with an increment in alkyl chain length at the N1- or N7-position. The positive inotropic activity of alkylxanthines was correlated with their inhibitory activity on the phosphodiesterase (PDE) III isoenzyme. Adenosine A1 antagonism and PDE IV inhibitory activity were also partly associated with the inotropic activity because H-89, an inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, diminished the positive inotropic action and potentiated the negative inotropic action. These results indicate that the positive inotropic activity of alkylxanthines becomes weak with elongation of alkyl chains at the N1- and N7-positions; In particular, xanthines having two long alkyl chains show a negative inotropic activity on the right ventricular papillary muscle, an effect that could not be elucidated from their cyclic AMP-dependent action.

Effects of alkyl substituents of xanthine on phosphodiesterase isoenzymes

The structure-activity relationships of a series of alkylxanthine derivatives were investigated. The partition coefficient of alkylxanthines enlarged with an elongation of the alkyl chain at the 1-, 3-, or 7-position of xanthine. There was a mild correlation between the apparent partition coefficient and the tracheal relaxant activity or the inhibitory activity on phosphodiesterase (PDE) IV isoenzyme, while the tracheal relaxant activity closely correlated with the PDE IV inhibitory activity. Regarding substituents at different positions, the alkylation at the 3-position increased the inhibitory activity on every PDE isoenzyme. The alkylation at the 1-position potentiated the inhibitory activity on PDE IV with the alkyl chain length, but decreased the activities on other PDE isoenzymes. The alkylation at the 7-position was characteristic in its decrease in inhibitory activity on PDE III. These results suggested that the potency of the inhibitory activity of xanthine derivatives on PDE isoenzymes is not dependent simply upon their hydrophobicity but upon change in the affinity for the active sites on PDE isoenzymes by the introduction of the alkyl group at particular positions of the xanthine skeleton.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in guinea-pig tracheal muscle and bronchorelaxation by alkylxanthines

In this study the phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes in guinea-pig trachealis smooth muscle were separated by DEAE-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography, identified, and characterized. Furthermore the effect of theophylline and 1-n-butyl-3-n-propylxanthine (BPX) on the isolated PDE isoenzymes and on their tracheal relaxant effect were investigated and compared with the nonxanthine PDE inhibitors amrinone and Ro 20-1724. We identified five distinct isoenzymes in guinea-pig tracheal muscle; calcium/calmodulin-stimulated cyclic AMP PDE (PDE I), cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic AMP PDE (PDE II), cyclic GMP-inhibited and amrinone-sensitive cyclic AMP PDE (PDE III), cyclic AMP-specific and Ro 20-1724-sensitive PDE (PDE IV), and cyclic GMP-specific PDE (PDE V). BPX strongly inhibited the PDE IV isoenzyme with high selectivity, while the inhibitory effect of theophylline was weak. The PDE IV inhibitors BPX and Ro 20-1724 synergistically increased the relaxant effect of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol in carbachol-contracted trachea much more strongly than theophylline. In contrast, amrinone, a PDE III inhibitor, hardly influenced the relaxant effect of salbutamol, suggesting that the PDE IV isoenzyme is functionally associated with beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig trachea and that inhibition of this enzyme potentiates the ability of salbutamol to increase the intracellular cyclic AMP content. These results indicate that the PDE IV isoenzyme plays a significant role in alkylxanthine-mediated relaxation of guinea-pig trachea.

Selective tracheal relaxation and phosphodiesterase-IV inhibition by xanthine derivatives

The effects of substitutions in the xanthine nucleus on tracheal relaxant activity, atrium chronotropic activity, adenosine A1 affinity, and inhibitory activities on cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in guinea pigs were studied. Substitution with a long alkyl chain at the N1-position of xanthine nucleus increased the tracheal relaxant activity without leading to positive chronotropic action, and long alkyl chains at the N3-position increased both activities. N7-substitutions with n-propyl and 2'-oxopropyl groups, such as in denbufylline, increased bronchoselectivity. N7-substitution decreased the adenosine A1 affinity, but substitution at either the N1- or N3-position increased it. The bronchorelaxant activity of xanthine derivatives was closely correlated with their inhibition of phosphodiesterase-IV, but not with their adenosine A1 affinity; the positive chronotropic effects were related to their inhibition of phosphodiesterase-III. This study confirms that the bronchorelaxation of xanthine derivatives is mediated by inhibition of the isoenzyme phosphodiesterase-IV. The results of structure-activity analysis suggest that substitutions at the N1- and N7-positions should be tried in the development of xanthine derivatives that are selective bronchodilators and phosphodiesterase-IV inhibitors.

Reverse relationship between malignancy and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in Yoshida rat ascites hepatomas

Rat ascites hepatoma (AH) cells (10(6) cells/head) inoculated intraperitoneally into rats had host-killing ability (malignancy) in the order AH66F > AH44 > AH13 > AH7974 > AH109A > AH66 > AH130. The life span of the rats after inoculation closely correlated with the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) in the tumor cells but not the activity of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). N-[2-[N-[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2-propenyl]amino]ethyl]-5- isoquinoline-sulfonamide (H-87), a potent, selective inhibitor of protein kinase A, inhibited in vitro growth of these hepatoma cells with a similar potency and, intraperitoneally injected, prolonged the lives of rats bearing less malignant AH66 cells (with high protein kinase A activity) but did not affect the life span of rats bearing highly malignant AH66F cells (with low protein kinase A activity). On the other hand N-(2-methylpiperazyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-7), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, inhibited AH66F cells more than AH66 cells, but did not influence the life span of rats bearing either hepatoma. From these results it is deduced that protein kinase A may be important in the regulation of malignancy and in vivo proliferation of AH cells.

Bronchodilator activity of xanthine derivatives substituted with functional groups at the 1- or 7-position

Xanthine derivatives with several functional groups at the 1- or 7-position were synthesized, and their pharmacological activities in guinea pigs were studied. In general, the in vitro tracheal relaxant action and positive chronotropic action of 3-propylxanthines were increased by substitutions with nonpolar functional groups at the 1-position, but decreased by any substitution at the 7-position. On the other hand, because positive chronotropic actions of substituents with allyl, aminoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and normal alkyl groups were much less than tracheal muscle became very high with substitutions of 3'-butenyl, (dimethylamino)ethyl, 2'-ethoxyethyl, 3'-methoxypropyl, and n-propyl groups at the 1-position and of 2'-ethoxyethyl, 2'-oxopropyl, and n-propyl groups at the 7-position, compared with theophylline and the corresponding unsubstituted xanthines, 3-propylxanthine and 1-methyl-3-propylxanthine. When compounds were intraduodenally administered to the guinea pig, 1-(2'-ethoxyethyl)-, 1-(3'-methoxypropyl)-, 1-(3'-butenyl)-, and 1-[(dimethylamino)-ethyl]-3-propylxanthines, 1-methyl-7-(2'-oxopropyl)-3-propylxanthine, and denbufylline (1,3-di-n-butyl-7-(2'-oxopropyl)xanthine) effectively inhibited the acetylcholine-induced bronchospasm without heart stimulation or central nervous system-stimulation at the effective dosage range. Particularly, the bronchodilatory effect of 1-(2'-ethoxyethyl)-3-propylxanthine was much stronger and more continuous than those of theophylline and pentoxifylline. On the other hand, there were certain relationships among the in vitro tracheal relaxant activities of these compounds, their affinities for adenosine (A1) receptors in the brain membrane, and their inhibition of cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) in the tracheal muscle. The affinity for A2 receptors of these compounds was very low or negligible. This suggests that both the action on A1 receptors or interaction with adenosine and the cyclic AMP-PDE inhibitory activity contribute to the bronchodilator action of 1- and 7-substituted xanthines. This study indicates that the substitutions with none or low polar functional groups at the 1-position could improve the selectivity and duration of the bronchodilator effects of xanthines.

Effects of alkyl substitutions of xanthine skeleton on bronchodilation

Structure-activity relationships in a series of 1,3,7-trialkyl-xanthine were studied with guinea pigs. Relaxant actions in the tracheal muscle were increased with alkyl chain length at the 1- and 3-positions of the xanthine skeleton, but decreased by alkylation at the 7-position. Positive chronotropic actions in the right atrium were potentiated with 3-alkyl chain length but tended to decrease with 1-alkylation and diminish by 7-substitution. Consequently, while the 1- and 3-substitutions were equally important for the tracheal smooth muscle relaxation, the substitution at the 1-position was more important than the 3-substitution for bronchoselectivity. The 7-alkylation may be significant to cancel heart stimulation. There were good correlations between the smooth muscle relaxant action and the cyclic AMP-PDE inhibitory activity in 3-substituents and the affinity for adenosine (A1) receptors in 1-, 3-, and 7-substituents. This suggests that not only the cyclic AMP-PDE inhibitory activity but also the adenosine antagonistic activity is important in the bronchodilatory effects of alkylxanthines. Among these xanthine derivatives, 1-butyl-3-propylxanthine and its 7-methylated derivative showed high bronchoselectivity in the in vitro and in vivo experiments compared to theophylline and enprofylline and may be new candidates for bronchodilator.

Studies on responsiveness of hepatoma cells to catecholamines. VI. Characteristics of adrenoceptors and adenylate cyclase response in rat ascites hepatoma cells and human hepatoma cells

Alpha 1, alpha 2- and beta-Adrenoceptor densities and catecholamine responsiveness in established hepatoma cells, rat ascites hepatoma AH13, AH66, AH66F, AH109A, AH130 and AH7974 cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma HLF and HepG2 cells, were compared with those in normal rat hepatocytes and Chang liver cells. Alpha 1-Adrenoceptor densities measured by [3H]prazosin bindings were not detected in all hepatoma cell lines. Alpha 2-Adrenoceptor densities measured by [3H]clonidine bindings were also barely detected in hepatoma cell lines except for AH130 cells and HepG2 cells. Regarding beta-adrenoceptor, AH109A, AH130 and AH7974 cells had much more [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding sites than normal rat hepatocytes, although we could not detect the binding in HepG2 cells. Adenylate cyclase of normal rat hepatocyte and Chang liver cells were stimulated by beta 2-adrenergic agonist salbutamol, while the cyclase in hepatoma cells had no beta 2-adrenergic response but a beta 1-type response. These findings indicate that the characteristics of adrenergic response in hepatoma cell lines is very different from that in normal hepatocytes, suggesting a participation in the hepatocarcinogenesis and/or the autonomous proliferation of hepatoma cells.

Changes in alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors in hepatocytes from rats during treatment with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene

A 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) containing diet was given to 6 weeks old female Donryu rats, and the number of adrenoceptors and the response of adenylate cyclase in the hepatocytes were measured. The treatment with 3'-MeDAB led to rapid increases in [125I]iodocyanopindolol ([125I]ICYP)- and [3H]clonidine-binding sites to hepatic membranes without significant changes in the Kd values. The number or beta-adrenoceptors defined by [125I]ICYP binding sites was increased with a biphagic mode. The [3H]clonidine binding reached a peak 2 weeks after the start of the carcinogen diet and then began a slow descent. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor was defined by [3H]clonidine binding being selectively inhibited by an alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine, but not by an alpha 1-antagonist, prazosin, or a beta-antagonist propranolol. Catecholamine responsiveness to adenylate cyclase in hepatocytes also increased during treatment with 3'-MeDAB. However, the efficacy of norepinephrine (NE) in activating cyclase was lower than that of isoproterenol (IPN) during 4 to 8 weeks of the carcinogen diet. The difference between the efficacies of IPN and NE resulted from inhibiting adenylate cyclase through alpha 2-adrenoceptors by NE. Therefore, we noticed that the increasing pattern of the number of beta-adrenoceptors did not always parallel IPN-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and that the increase in the number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors preceded the difference between the efficacies of IPN and NE in activating adenylate cyclase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of gomisin A on hepatocarcinogenesis by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in rats

We examined the effects of gomisin A on tumor promotion in the liver after a short-term feeding of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) to rats, compared with the effects of phenobarbital. Male Donryu rats were fed ad libitum a diet containing 0.06% 3'-MeDAB and 0.03% or 0.01% gomisin A or water containing 0.05% phenobarbital. Gomisin A and phenobarbital did not cause any proliferative and neoplastic lesions by themselves in 40 weeks of feeding. Altered foci in the liver increased with a peak at 12 weeks after the rats were fed 3'-MeDAB. Gomisin A decreased the number of hepatic altered foci such as the clear cell and basophilic cell type foci in the early stages. Phenobarbital enhanced neoplastic alterations so that the number and size of the foci were much larger in the phenobarbital-combined group than in the 3'-MeDAB-control group. Thus, phenobarbital acted as a promoter of cells initiated by 3'-MeDAB; on the other hand, gomisin A showed a weak suppressive effect on tumor promotion.

Changes in number of alpha-adrenergic receptor subtypes in hepatocytes from rats fed 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene

Changes in numbers of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the plasma membranes of hepatocytes from female Donryu rats given feed containing 0.06% of the carcinogen 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB), were examined. alpha 1-Adrenergic receptors, measured in terms of [3H]prazosin binding, decreased to half of the control 2 weeks after the start of this diet, then gradually decreased for the next 22 weeks. alpha 2-Adrenergic receptors, measured in terms of [3H]clonidine binding, transiently increased 3-fold over the control at 2 weeks. These changes in the early period of the 3'-MeDAB diet intake may be related to hepatocarcinogenesis.

Altered adrenergic response and specificity of the receptors in rat ascites hepatoma AH130

Adenylate cyclase activation through adrenergic receptors in rat ascites hepatoma (AH) 130 cells in response to adrenergic drugs was studied, and receptor binding and displacement were compared with those of normal rat hepatocytes. Epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) activated AH130 adenylate cyclase about half as much as isoproterenol (IPN) but equaled IPN after treatment with the alpha-antagonist phentolamine or islet-activating protein (IAP). The three catecholamines in hepatocytes were similar regardless of phentolamine or IAP. These catecholamines activated adenylate cyclase in order of IPN greater than NE greater than Epi in AH130 cells but IPN greater than Epi greater than NE in hepatocytes. We then used the alpha 1-selective ligand [3H]prazosin, the alpha 2-selective ligand [3H]clonidine, and the beta-ligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol [( 125I]ICYP), and found that AH130 cells had few prazosin-binding sites, about eight times as many clonidine-binding sites with high affinity, and many more ICYP-binding sites than in hepatocytes. The dissociation constant (Ki) of the beta 1-selective drug metoprolol by Hofstee plots for AH130 cells was lower than that for hepatocytes. The inhibition of specific ICYP binding by the beta 2-selective agonist salbutamol for AH130 cells gave only one Ki value which was much higher than both high and low Ki values of the drug for hepatocytes. These findings indicate that the alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in hepatocytes are predominantly alpha 1-type and beta 2-type, but that those in AH130 cells are predominantly alpha 2-type and beta 1-type, and the low adrenergic response of AH130 cells is due to the dominant appearance of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors, linked with the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide binding regulatory protein, instead of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, and beta 1-adrenergic receptors with low affinity for the hormone.

Forskolin inhibits the Gs-stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat ascites hepatoma AH66F cells

Forskolin increased intracellular cyclic AMP and augmented cyclic AMP formation by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in normal rat hepatocytes and ascites hepatoma AH66 cells. However, in AH66F cells which were derived from the AH66 cell line, the diterpene only slightly increased the cyclic AMP level, and dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation caused by PGE1. Forskolin dose-dependently activated adenylate cyclase in these membranes, and the magnitude of activation by forskolin was largest in the following order: hepatocytes, AH66 cells, and AH66F cells. This difference may be based on the number of forskolin-binding sites. The binding affinity of forskolin for each cell membrane was similar. The number and affinity of forskolin-binding sites in these cells were not influenced by 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p]. In hepatocytes and AH66 cells, forskolin and other adenylate cyclase activators such as PGE1, GTP, Gpp(NH)p, F-, and Mn2+ synergistically increased the enzyme activity. In AH66F cells, the forskolin-stimulated activity was hardly influenced by the GTP analog, and forskolin diminished the activities induced by the GTP analog in a manner similar to that of diterpene alone. Forskolin (10 microM) also significantly inhibited the activities induced by PGE1, GTP, and F-. The effect of forskolin with Mn2+ was additive in AH66F cells. The data suggest that forskolin promotes the interaction between the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein and the catalytic unit in the membrane of normal hepatocytes and AH66 cells, but it interferes with the coupling in AH66F cells.

Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of forskolin on adenylate cyclase in rat normal hepatocytes and hepatoma cells

Forskolin synergistically potentiated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate formation by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in rat normal hepatocytes freshly prepared by collagenase digestion and rat ascites hepatoma AH66 cells, but dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation by PGE1 in AH66F cells. Forskolin activated adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner in homogenates of all cell lines. In normal hepatocytes and AH66 cells, simultaneous addition of forskolin and other adenylate cyclase activators [isoproterenol (IPN), PGE1, guanosine 5'-triphosphate sodium salt (GTP), 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate sodium salt (Gpp (NH)p), NaF, cholera toxin, islet activating protein and MnCl2] gave greater than additive responses. On the other hand, in AH66F cells, the effect of forskolin on adenylate cyclase was hardly influenced by GTP, but forskolin diminished the activities induced by high concentrations of GTP to that by the diterpene alone. Forskolin also significantly inhibited the PGE1-stimulated and the guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein-stimulated activities. Because AH66F cells were insensitive to IPN, the combination with forskolin and IPN gave similar activity to that obtained with the diterpene alone. The effect of forskolin on the activation by manganese ion was neither synergistic nor inhibitory but was additive in AH66F cells. These results suggest that forskolin promotes the interaction between the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein and the catalytic unit in normal hepatocytes and AH66 cells, but in AH66F cells forskolin interferes with the coupling of the two components of adenylate cyclase.

A comparison of adrenergic receptors of rat ascites hepatoma AH130 cells with those of normal rat hepatocytes

The pharmacological specificity of adrenergic receptors in the plasma membrane of rat ascites hepatoma AH130 cells was compared with that in normal rat hepatocytes. The number of [125I]iodocyanopindolol-binding sites was much greater in AH130 cells than in the hepatocytes. We characterized the alpha-adrenergic receptor subtypes using the alpha 1-selective ligand [3H]prazosin and the alpha 2-selective ligand [3H]clonidine. AH130 cells had fewer prazosin-binding sites than the hepatocytes and about 8 times as many clonidine-binding sites of high affinity. The results showed that the adrenergic receptors in AH130 cells have pharmacological properties that are very different from those of the receptors in normal rat hepatocytes.

Studies on responsiveness of hepatoma cells to catecholamines. IV. Lack of adrenergic activation of phosphorylase in rat ascites hepatoma cells

Glycogen phosphorylase a activity in 7 rat ascites hepatoma cell lines treated with adrenergic agents, phenylephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol, was investigated as compared with that in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Basal phosphorylase activities in hepatoma cells except AH7974 cells were lower than that in hepatocytes. Phosphorylase in hepatoma cells was not activated by any of the agents, while the enzyme activity in hepatocytes was clearly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Phosphorylase in hepatocytes was sensitive to glucagon, but it was found to be insensitive to glucagon in all hepatoma cells. The present results suggest that rat ascites hepatoma cells may escape the glycogenolytic regulation by catecholamines and glucagon.

Studies on responsiveness of hepatoma cells to catecholamines. III. Difference between the receptor-adenylate cyclase regulating systems in AH130 cells and cultured normal rat liver cells

The responsiveness to three beta-adrenergic agonists, isoproterenol (IPN), epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) in AH13O cells was examined compared with that in normal rat liver cells which were cultured for 24 hr after collagenase digestion. As regards to the activation of adenylate cyclase in the cell homogenates, the relative affinity of the three agonists was in order of IPN greater than NE greater than Epi in AH130 cells and IPN greater than Epi greater than NE in cultured normal liver cells. While the efficacies of the three agonists were similar in cultured liver cells, those of NE and Epi were markedly lower than that of IPN in AH13O cells and were increased to the similar level of IPN by pretreatment with phentolamine, but not with prazosin. Clonidine inhibited the activation of adenylate cyclase by IPN in AH13O cells. When cells were preincubated with islet-activating protein (IAP), the activity of adenylate cyclase in the presence or absence of agonist in both cell lines increased. In IAP-treated AH13O cells, the efficacies of NE and Epi became close to that of IPN. Adenylate cyclase in IAP-treated AH13O cells was activated by GTP in a dose-dependent manner, but that in IAP-treated cultured liver cells was not. In the presence of IPN, biphasic (activatory and inhibitory) effects of GTP on the cyclase were observed, and the inhibitory phase was eliminated by the IAP-treatment in both cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of mitomycin C on the activation of adenylate cyclase in rat ascites hepatoma AH130 cells

Isoproterenol (IPN)-stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner by exposure of AH130 cells to mitomycin C (MMC). The enhancement was also observed in prostaglandin E1-, guanine nucleotide analog-, NaF-, cholera toxin- and forskolin-stimulated activities of the enzyme but not in manganese-stimulated activity. In addition, even when the cells pretreated with islet-activating protein were exposed to MMC, IPN-stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase was enhanced. Anaerobic exposure of AH130 cells to MMC somewhat inhibited IPN-stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase in contrast with aerobic exposure. Exposure of cells to adriamycin also caused enhancement of IPN-stimulated activity of adenylate cyclase but exposure to nitrogen mustard inhibited the enzyme stimulation by IPN. The enhancing effect of MMC was lost by the combined treatment with alpha-tocopherol. From these results, it was shown that MMC modulated the activity of adenylate cyclase, probably through alterations in membrane structure.

Studies on responsiveness of hepatoma cells to catecholamines. II. Comparison of beta-adrenergic responsiveness of rat ascites hepatoma cells with cultured normal rat liver cells

The pharmacological properties of beta-adrenoceptors in rat ascites hepatoma cells were compared with those in normal rat liver cells which were cultured for 24 hr after collagenase digestion. Adenylate cyclases in the homogenates of cultured normal rat liver cells and rat ascites hepatoma cells, AH44, AH66, AH109A, AH130 and AH7974, were all activated by isoproterenol or NaF to different degrees. The enzyme in rat liver cells was activated by several beta 2-agonists but those in all hepatoma cells hardly responded. Furthermore, salbutamol, a beta 2-partial agonist, antagonized the cyclase activation by isoproterenol in AH130 cells. The Kact value of isoproterenol for the activation of adenylate cyclase in AH130 cells was smaller than that in rat liver cells. A comparison of the Ki values of beta-antagonists for the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclase activity shows that while the Ki values of propranolol and butoxamine in AH130 cells were similar to those in rat liver cells, a significant difference was observed in the values for beta 1-selective antagonists between AH130 cells and rat liver cells. The Ki values of metoprolol and atenolol for AH130 cells were 137- and 90-fold lower, respectively, than for normal rat liver cells. From these findings, it is strongly suggested that beta-adrenoceptors in rat ascites hepatoma cells including AH130 cells have similar properties to the mammalian beta 1-receptor.

Effect of beta-adrenergic stimulants on cytotoxicity of mitomycin C in HeLa cells

Effects of several autonomic agents on the cytotoxicity of mitomycin C in HeLa cells were studied. When beta-adrenergic stimulants such as isoproterenol, epinephrine, terbutaline and turobuterol were added at concentrations over 10(-14) M 15 to 60 min before mitomycin C, the colony-forming ability of HeLa cells was significantly inhibited more than by mitomycin C alone. The action of isoproterenol and epinephrine on the colony-forming ability of the cells was abolished by propranolol. The intracellular cyclic AMP level of HeLa cells reached the peak of about two-fold the basal level at 30 min after the addition of 10(-8) M isoproterenol. In combination with mitomycin C, the high level of intracellular cyclic AMP induced by isoproterenol was maintained for a significantly longer period in comparison with that by isoproterenol alone, while mitomycin C alone caused essentially no change in the cyclic AMP level. The pretreatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP also enhanced the effect of mitomycin C. From these findings, it is strongly suggested that the synergistic effect of beta-adrenergic stimulants on the cytotoxicity of mitomycin C is mediated via stimulation of the beta-adrenoceptors of HeLa cells which elevates the intracellular cyclic AMP for a long time in combination with mitomycin C.

Combination antitumor effect with central nervous system depressants on rat ascites hepatomas

Combined effect of twenty-one central nervous system depressants with several antitumor agents was studied in the in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, using rat ascites hepatoma call lines, AH13 and AH44, sensitive and insensitive to alkylating agents, respectively. Reserpine remarkably enhanced the cytotoxic effect of 1-(gamma-chloropropyl)-2-chloromethylpiperidine hydrobromide (CAP-2) both on AH13 and AH44 cells. In the in vivo combined experiments, reserpine also synergistically enhanced the life-prolonging effect of CAP-2 on AH13-bearing rats and, although CAP-2 was not potent on the prolongation of life span of AH44-bearing rats and reserpine was also ineffective at the doses examined, the life span of tumor-bearing rats receiving the combined administration was apparently prolonged compared with control groups. Thus, there was a parallelism between in vitro and in vivo experiments. These findings suggested that the antitumor-enhancing effect of reserpine might be due to the direct action on the tumor cells, and a possible mechanism that reserpine inhibited the DNA damage-repairing activity of the cells was contradictory. Other mechanisms are also discussed.