Angiotensin II and insulin induce growth of ciliary artery smooth muscle: effects of AT1/AT2 antagonists

PURPOSE: Abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in small arteries of the eye is associated with hypertension and diabetes, and the complications that they induce. Migration and proliferation of SMCs into the intima are primary mechanisms involved in neointima formation. In aortic SMCs, angiotensin II (AII)-induced proliferation is inhibited by angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist. However, in small artery SMCs, in particular in the circulation of the eye, the effects of AII on migration and proliferation are unknown. METHODS: The effects of AII (10(-6) to 10(-10) M) on migration and proliferation of growth-arrested SMCs of porcine ciliary arteries were studied in the presence and absence of insulin (5 x 10(-10) M) by assaying DNA synthesis (3H-thymidine incorporation), cell number, and movement of SMCs across the membrane of a modified Boyden chamber. RESULTS: In the absence of insulin, only high concentrations (10(-6) to 10(-8) M) of AII induced DNA synthesis and increased cell number (P < 0.05); however, in the presence of insulin (5 x 10(-10) M), AII induced DNA synthesis and cell number at low concentrations (10(-10) M) and in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). In contrast to proliferation, AII induced SMC migration in a concentration-dependent manner in the absence of insulin (P < 0.05). The AT1 antagonist CGP48933 (10(-8) to 10(-12) M), but not the AT2 antagonist CGP42112 (10(-8) to 10(-12) M), inhibited AII (10(-8) M)-induced proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that AII is a potent mitogen for SMCs of ophthalmic arteries, an effect that is enhanced in the presence of insulin, and that it may be an important contributor to structural vascular changes in the ophthalmic circulation in hypertension associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes. The inhibition of AII-induced growth by an AT1 antagonist suggests that these drugs may be important therapeutic tools to prevent structural vascular changes in the ophthalmic vasculature under these conditions.     

Renal artery dissection causing renal infarction in otherwise healthy men

Considerable evidence indicates that the microvascular changes observed in psoriasis are a result of angiogenesis. Vascular proliferation is driven by the local production of molecules which have angiogenic activity. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase (PDECGF/TP) is a potent angiogenic factor active in in vivo angiogenesis assays and overexpressed in several tumour types. We have demonstrated by ribonuclease protection analysis a consistently high degree of PDECGF/TP mRNA production in lesional psoriatic skin, while immunohistochemical studies revealed strong PDECGF/TP immunoreactivity in lesional epidermis, with nuclear staining present in basal keratinocytes and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in suprabasal layers. Non-lesional skin showed minimal PDECGF/TP mRNA production and weak epidermal immunostaining. These results indicate a potential role for PDECGF/TP in the pathophysiology of psoriasis, and reveal a target for antiangiogenesis therapy in the treatment of this disease.     

Effects of insulin-like growth factor I and II on DNA synthesis and proliferation in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

We compared the effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and II (IGF-II) on DNA synthesis and proliferation and investigated various signal transduction mechanisms involved in insulin-like growth factor-induced mitogenesis in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. IGF-I stimulated hepatocyte DNA synthesis and proliferation with an EC50 of 75 ng/ml within 4 h of culture. These effects were sensitive to the IGF-I concentration and cell density. Hepatocyte proliferation induced by IGF-I was potentiated by metaproterenol (10(-6) M) as well as by 8-bromo-cAMP, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 10(-8) M) and was inhibited by U-73122 (1-(-[[17beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-17-yl]amino]hexyl]-+ ++1Hpyrrol-2,5-dione)), genistein, wortmannin, PD98059 (2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone) and rapamycin. The IGF-I effect was independent of pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml). IGF-II also dose dependently stimulated hepatocyte DNA synthesis and proliferation with an EC50 of 0.75 ng/ml within 4 h of culture. However, these effects were not dependent on the initial plating density. The stimulatory effects of IGF-II were potentiated by UK-14304 (5-bromo-6-[2-imidazolin-2-ylamino]-quinoxaline) (10(-5) M) and inhibited by phenylephrine, PMA, metaproterenol, 8-bromo-cAMP, PD98059, rapamycin, and pertussis toxin. The IGF-II effects were not affected by genistein, U-73122, and wortmannin. These results suggest that IGF-I and IGF-II rapidly stimulate the DNA synthesis and proliferation of adult rat hepatocytes by separate mechanisms.     

Microevolution and epidemic spread of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis--a review

We examined the effects of nicotine on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity using primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. The cell viability decreased significantly when cultures were exposed to glutamate for 10 min and then incubated with glutamate-free medium for 1 h. The exposure of cultures to nicotine (10 microM) for 8-24 h prior to glutamate application ameliorated the glutamate-induced cytotoxicity, with no significant effect of nicotine alone on the cell viability. Neuroprotection by nicotine was dependent on the incubation period. alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) and methyllycaconitine (MLA), both of which are alpha7-neuronal receptor antagonists, and dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE), a neuronal central nervous system (CNS) receptor antagonist, each significantly antagonized the protection by nicotine against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, and S-nitrosocysteine (SNOC), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, also induced cytotoxicity in a manner similar to glutamate. Nicotine protected cultures against ionomycin-induced cytotoxicity, but not against SNOC-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that nicotine protects cultured cortical neurons against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity via alpha7-neuronal receptors and neuronal CNS receptors by reducing NO-formation triggered by Ca2+ influx.     

Nicotine does not modulate IL-4 and interferon-gamma release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and T cell clones activated by phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore

Tobacco smoking induces an increased nonspecific IgE response. IgE synthesis is controlled by IL-4 and IFN-gamma. The effect of nicotine (10(-10) to 10(-5) M), one of the major components of tobacco smoke, were studied on IL-4 and IFN-gamma release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 allergic patients and 12 nonallergic subjects and 16 T cell clones stimulated by nonspecific agonists (phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore). The release of IL-4 and IFN-gamma was measured by ELISA in supernatants after a 48-hour culture. Nicotine did not modify IL-4 and IFN-gamma release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells or T cell clones. The effects of tobacco smoke on IgE production are unlikely to change in the T cell phenotype by nicotine.     

Nicotine regulates nicotinic cholinergic receptors and subunit mRNAs in PC 12 cells through protein kinase A

To understand the up-regulation of neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAcChRs) that results from chronic in vivo treatment with nicotine, we studied the effect of nicotine on [3H]nicotine binding sites on PC 12 cells. PC 12 cells were grown in nicotine hemisulfate (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) or vehicle for 7 days, and specific [3H]nicotine binding was measured. Nicotine (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) dose-dependently increased specific binding by up to 2.6-fold over basal levels in 5-7 days, whereas a 10(-3) M concentration failed to do so. In contrast, [3H]nicotine binding to PC 12 cell mutants (A126.1B2 and A123.7), deficient in cAMP-responsive protein kinase A Types I and/or II, was unaffected by nicotine. Northern gel analysis of nAcChR subunit mRNAs from wild type PC 12 cells showed that the mRNA encoding the dominant agonist-binding subunit, alpha 3, was significantly reduced by nicotine, as early as 4 h after treatment, whereas mRNA for the structural beta 2 subunit was slightly increased. In contrast, the alpha 3 subunit mRNA from the PC 12 cell mutant A123.7 was not significantly decreased after 4 h and 7 days of nicotine treatment. These studies indicate that nicotine up-regulates expression of nAcChRs on wild type PC 12 cells and reduces the content of alpha 3 subunit mRNA; these effects require an intact protein kinase A system. The divergent effects of nicotine on the nAcChR compared to its alpha 3 subunit mRNA suggests that enhanced expression of nicotinic receptors may not involve synthesis of new receptor subunit proteins.     

D2 dopamine receptor antisense increases the activity and mRNA of tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in mouse brain

OBJECTIVE: Cytolytic activity of TNF was analysed at L929 and K562 tumor cell lines. METHODS: TNF-mediated cytotoxicity was studied within 10(-6)-10(-17) M concentration range after 18 h of incubation with target cells. RESULTS: TNF caused reliable cytotoxicity values in both cell lines, while L929 cells were more sensitive to cytolytic action of the protein than K562 cells. Three cytotoxicity maxima were detected at each cell line: at concentrations of 10(-6) M, 10(-17) M and 10(-15) M in K562 cells and at concentrations of 10(-7) M, 10(-11) M, 10(-14), 10(-16) M in L929 cells. CONCLUSIONS: DNA fragmentation analysis demonstrated that all cytolytic processes induced by TNF in L929 cells are associated with apoptotic mechanism of cell death, while cytolytic process induced in K562 cells differed in DNA fragmentation patterns: cytolytic processes induced by 10(-6) M of TNF was of apoptotic type, while the other processes were not associated with internucleosomal DNA cleavage.     

DNA typing as a strategy for resolving issues relevant to forensic toxicology

Retinoids influence proliferation and differentiation in transformed thyroid cell lines. Retinoids are able to damage cells by destabilizing lysosomal membranes and induce apoptosis in certain cell lines. In normal thyrocytes retinol modulates iodine metabolism. At concentrations higher than 50x10(-6) M retinoids are cytotoxic for normal (not transformed) thyroid cells. The mechanism of this cytotoxicity is unknown. We studied the effect of 7-80x10(-6) M retinol on porcine follicular thyrocytes in culture. In order to differentiate between membrane-destabilizing effects and apoptosis we investigated cultures after incubation with retinol by light- and electron-microscopy and by labeling of potential nicks in the DNA helix by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-dUTP mediated DNA nick end labeling. We conclude that the observed cytotoxicity is caused mainly by the induction of apoptosis.     

Effects of troglitazone and pioglitazone on cytokine-mediated endothelial cell proliferation in vitro

We examined whether troglitazone and pioglitazone, antidiabetic thiazolidinediones, would directly induce endothelial cell proliferation or influence cytokine-driven proliferation in vitro. Monolayers of Balb/c mouse aortic endothelial cells were treated with troglitazone or pioglitazone in the absence of fetal bovine serum. Endothelial cells also were exposed to varying concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or insulin with or without either thiazolidinedione. After 48 h, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiozol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to quantitate endothelial cell proliferation by using the various treatment regimens. The data demonstrate that the antidiabetic thiazolidinediones troglitazone and pioglitazone negligibly affect direct endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, troglitazone and pioglitazone significantly inhibit bFGF-induced endothelial cell mitogenesis, whereas only high concentrations of troglitazone affect insulin-mediated proliferation.     

Effect of chronic nicotine administration on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis

BACKGROUND: Smoking, probably due to nicotine, has a bivalent effect on inflammatory bowel disease, ameliorating disease activity in ulcerative colitis and with a deleterious effect on Crohn's disease. The effect of nicotine patches in ulcerative colitis is controversial. AIM: To investigate the effect of chronic nicotine use in a rat model of colitis. METHODS: Colitis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by rectal administration of 30 mg trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) in 50% ethanol. Nicotine was dissolved in drinking water (2.5, 12.5, 25 and 250 microg/ml), with rats drinking ad libitum. Nicotine administration started 10 days prior to damage induction and had no effect on weight gain or daily food intake of rats. Rats were sacrificed 1 and 5 days after TNBS administration, their colons resected, rinsed, weighed, damage assessed macroscopically (mm2) and microscopically and tissue processed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) generation and interleukin-1 (IL-1) serum levels. RESULTS: Nicotine, by itself, caused no damage to the colon. Nicotine had a dose-dependent bivalent effect on colitis, significantly reducing macroscopic damage from 983 +/- 10 mm2 on TNBS alone to 429 +/- 118 mm2 on TNBS plus 12.5 microg/ml of nicotine, and escalating to 1086 +/- 262 mm2 on 250 microg/ml of nicotine. Segmental weight declined significantly (from 2.4 +/- 0.2 to 1.65 +/- 0.20 g/10 cm), on 12.5 microg/ml nicotine, as did MPO activity (from 3.2 +/- 0.4 to 0.7 +/- 0.1 units/g). All these parameters returned to the levels of TNBS alone when the dose of nicotine was increased to 250 microg/ml. Nicotine had no effect on NOS activity, PGE2 generation and serum IL-1 levels, but increased LTB4 generation. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine has a dose-dependent bivalent effect on TNBS-induced colitis which is not due to reduction in IL-1 serum levels or PGE2 generation, and is not NOS-mediated.     

Active immunization alters the plasma nicotine concentration in rats

The ability of active immunization to alter nicotine distribution was studied in rats. Animals were immunized with 6-(carboxymethylureido)-(+/-)-nicotine (CMUNic) linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Antibody titers determined by ELISA, using CMUNic coupled to albumin as the coating antigen, were greater than 1:10,000. Antibody binding was inhibited by neither of the nicotine metabolites cotinine and nicotine-N-oxide but was inhibited to a greater extent by CMUNic than by nicotine; this suggests the presence of antibodies to the linker structure as well as antibodies to nicotine. Antibody affinity for nicotine measured by soluble radioimmunoassay was 2.4 +/- 1.6 x 10(7) M-1, and binding capacity was 1.3 +/- 0.7 x 10(-6) M, which corresponds to 0.1 +/- 0.05 mg/ml of nicotine-specific IgG per milliliter of serum. One week after their second boost, groups of eight anesthetized rats immunized with either CMUNic-KLH or KLH alone received nicotine 0.03 mg/kg (equivalent to two cigarettes in a human) via the jugular vein over 10 sec. This dosing regimen was shown to mimic the arterio-venous nicotine concentration gradient typical of nicotine delivered by cigarette smoking in humans. Plasma nicotine concentrations at 10 to 40 min were 4 to 6-fold higher in the CMUNic-KLH rats than in controls (P < .001). Nicotine binding in plasma determined by equilibrium dialysis was markedly increased in the CMUNic-KLH group (83.4 +/- 6.8% vs. 16.4 +/- 14.2%), but brain nicotine concentrations at 40 min did not differ (37.9 +/- 4.5 vs. 44.0 +/- 8. 4 ng/g, CMUNic-KLH vs. KLH, P = .1). The amount of nicotine bound to antibody in plasma, estimated from the in vivo data, was 9% of the administered dose. These data demonstrate that active immunization can bind a significant fraction of a clinically relevant nicotine dose in plasma. Observing this effect with antibodies of modest affinity and titer is encouraging, but better immunogens may be needed to alter nicotine distribution to brain and modify nicotine's behavioral effects.     

Prostaglandin E2 in human placenta: its vascular effects and activation of prostaglandin E2 formation by nicotine and cotinine

Tobacco smoking by pregnant women increases the frequency of spontaneous abortions and preterm births. Human labor is associated with enhanced intrauterine phospholipid metabolism and production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) which induces labor, initiates uterine contractions and maintains the homeostasis of placental blood flow. Therefore, we studied: (a) the influence of nicotine and cotinine on the effects of PGE2 on placental vasculature in perfused human placental cotyledon, and (b) the activation of placental phospholipase A2 (PLA2) by nicotine and cotinine using 1-palmitoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 2.2 nmol) as substrate. These studies revealed that: (1) increasing concentrations of PGE2 (10- 150 ng/ml) increased umbilical perfusion pressure by 170 +/- 10% (n = 6) of control (100%). Cotinine (2 microg/ml) enhanced this effect at all concentrations of PGE2. Nicotine (2 microg/ml) prevented the effect of PGE2; (2) both cotinine (EC50 470-500 fmol/l) and nicotine (EC50 18-32 pmol/l) activated PLA2 in human placental tissues. These observations indicated that cotinine was more potent than in nicotine activating PLA2 and potentiating the vasoconstrictive effects of PGE2 on fetal placental circulation. Nicotine activates nicotinic receptors and releases placental acetylcholine, a vasodilator of placental arteries. Acetylcholine stimulates muscarinic receptors of endothelial cells resulting in the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), and possibly nitric oxide. Therefore, nicotine prevents or abolishes the vasoconstrictive effects of PGE2 through the release of EDRF. Cotinine is inactive at nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Therefore, accumulation of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, in fetal circulation may contribute to production of PGE2 and induction of preterm labor and spontaneous abortions.     

Inhibition of human oral squamous carcinoma cell (SCC-25) proliferation by prostaglandin E2 and vitamin E succinate

The primary objective of this investigation was to study the effect of D-alpha-tocopherol acid succinate (vitamin E succinate) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), individually and in combination, on the proliferation of human tongue squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-25) in vitro. Test compounds in varying concentrations were incubated with cells in serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium-Ham's F-12 Medium (50:50), supplemented with 0.1% albumin for sixteen hours. Cell proliferation was measured by the incorporation of [3H] thymidine in acid-insoluble material (i.e. DNA). Prostaglandin E2 and vitamin E succinate, individually at 10(-9)-10(-6) M, caused significant dose-dependent inhibition in DNA synthesis. A combined dose of each compound at 10(-5) M resulted in significant additive inhibition which averaged 43.53% (p < 0.005). Addition of indomethacin (INDO) to cell cultures induced significant dose-dependent stimulation in DNA synthesis. Hence, we might suggest that the overall potential of vitamin E in controlling malignant cell proliferation in vivo could be due to its own effect combined with that of endogenous PGs which are normally produced in excessive amounts by malignant cells.     

Regulation of proliferation and production of prostate-specific antigen in androgen-sensitive prostatic cancer cells, LNCaP, by dihydrotestosterone

LNCaP is an androgen-sensitive human prostatic cancer cell line. The effect of androgen on these cells is characterized by a bell-shaped growth response and a dose-dependent induction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) production. The present study was carried out to gain further insight into the effect of androgen on LNCaP. Cells were cultured in phenol red-free RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum, with concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) ranging from 0-10(-7) M, in a 4-day culture system. A bell-shaped growth response was reproduced with a peak level of cell count at 10(-10) M DHT. PSA secretion from these cells did not increase significantly until the DHT level in the medium reached 10(-9) M. A progressive increase in PSA secretion was observed at higher DHT concentrations accompanied with a progressive decline in cellular proliferation. The results of immunocytochemical analysis of PSA localization indicated that the proportion of cells with positive staining for PSA also increased with increasing concentrations of DHT. Analysis of androgen receptors, as determined by both immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis, showed a decline in nuclear androgen receptor at low concentrations of DHT and an increase in the amount of receptor protein at high concentrations. These results indicated that the androgen-induced bell-shaped growth response in LNCaP cells represented the manifestation of two different cellular events in dose-related manner: cellular proliferation at low DHT concentrations and increased production of PSA at high DHT concentrations.     

Studies of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein from rat brain

Specific binding of 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin to a 34800 X g pellet of a whole rat brain homogenate has been obtained at levels of 2 pmol toxin per g of whole brain with a Kd of 8-10(-9) M. Binding is reduced 90% by 10(-5) M (+)-tubocurarine chloride and 10(-4) M nicotine, whereas concentrations of 10(-4) M choline chloride, atropine sulfate and eserine sulfate have essentially no effect on toxin binding. These results compare closely with those obtained from binding studies with 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin and soluble acetylcholine receptor protein preparations from Torpedo nobiliana; suggesting that this mammalian receptor protein is nicotinic in character. Extraction of the 34800 X g pellet with 1% Emulphogene yields a soluble fraction with specifically binds 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin with a Kd of 5-10(-9) M. Nicotine and alpha-bungarotoxin at concentrations of 10(-5) M abolish toxin-receptor complex formation and carbachol and (+)-tubocurarine chloride reduce complex formation 35-40% at similar concentrations. Eserine sulfate, atropine sulfate, decamethonium, and pilocarpine had no effect on complex formation at concentrations of 10(-5) M.     

Interstitial laser-induced thermotherapy: influence of carbonization on lesion size

Growth/differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) is a new member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of multifunctional peptide growth factors that appear to mediate many key events in cell growth and development. The effects of GDF-5 and other growth factors (epidermal growth factor, EGF; TGF-beta 1) on the proliferation of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts compared with desoximetasone and calcipotriol have been investigated. The proliferation rate was determined by a hemocytometer, MTT assay and the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine. Moreover, cell cycle analyses were performed and the influence on interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) production in keratinocytes was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) because of its pronounced proinflammatory effect. In keratinocytes, GDF-5 stimulated cell proliferation to a minor extent. The drug already proved to be effective at very low concentrations (0.1 ng/ml). Growth stimulatory effects with EGF have been observed only in keratinocyte basal medium (KBM), but not in keratinocyte growth medium (KGM). TGF-beta 1 markedly inhibited the proliferation of keratinocytes at concentrations > 1 ng/ml. Calcipotriol and desoximetasone also showed a dose-dependent cell growth inhibition in epidermal cell cultures. IL-1 alpha synthesis was greatly suppressed by calcipotriol 10(-8)-10(-6) M. EGF at 10 ng/ml, in contrast, strongly stimulated IL-1 alpha production. Neither GDF-5 nor TGF-beta 1 had a significant effect on IL-1 alpha production in keratinocyte monolayer cultures. In fibroblasts, GDF-5 induced very weak antiproliferative effects. Calcipotriol and desoximetasone also inhibited cell growth in fibroblast cultures whereas proliferation and DNA synthesis were strongly stimulated by 1 ng/ml EGF. There was, however, a contradiction between TGF-beta 1 results on fibroblasts. Whereas TGF-beta 1 increased proliferation in cell number determination and in the thymidine incorporation assay, MTT assays showed slight antiproliferative effects. Due to these controversial results, in addition cell cycle analysis was employed. TGF-beta 1 led to an increased S phase, which indicates a stimulation of cell division. The different results obtained with the MTT test suggest that TGF-beta 1 may stimulate cell division of fibroblasts not only by increasing the S phase, but also by shortening the G1 phase of the cell cycle.     

Anti-mitogenic effects of sarpogrelate in cultured rat mesangial cells

We investigated the effects of the new 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, sarpogrelate, on DNA synthesis in renal mesangial cells stimulated with 5-HT in the presence and absence of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. Both 5-HT and PDGF-BB demonstrated a mitogenic effect on these cells. When mesangial cells were incubated in the absence of PDGF-BB, sarpogrelate inhibited DNA synthesis in these cells in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of PDGF-BB, sarpogrelate had a weaker anti-mitogenic effect in mesangial cells stimulated with 5-HT. Sarpogrelate was cytotoxic at concentrations over 10(-5) M according to the results of LDH release assays, and it reduced the S1 phase in mesangial cells stimulated with 5-HT by a flow cytometry. These findings suggest that sarpogrelate may be effective in the treatment of some glomerulonephritis associated with mesangial cell proliferation.     

Effect of atrial natriuretic peptide and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibition on collagen synthesis by adult cardiac fibroblasts

1. Cardiac fibroblasts play an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodelling induced by hypertension and myocardial infarction by undergoing proliferation and depositing extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen. We have examined the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on proliferation and collagen synthesis by adult rat and human cardiac fibroblasts in culture. 2. In cells from both species radioligand studies using 125I-ANP suggested that the majority of binding sites (> 85%) were non-guanylyl cyclase-linked (NPR-C subtype). Nonetheless ANP (10(-9) to 10(-6) M), in the presence of zaprinast, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), increased fibroblast cyclic GMP levels 3-5 fold in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). 3. ANP (10(-11) to 10(-6) M), a NPR-C ligand, C-ANF4-23 (10(-11) to 10(-6) M) and zaprinast alone had no significant effect on either basal or serum-stimulated DNA synthesis or fibroblast number. In combination with zaprinast (10(-5) M), however, ANP (10(-9) to 10(-6) M) but not C-ANF4-23 (10(-7) M) inhibited markedly both basal and stimulated fibroblast mitogenesis, an effect reproduced by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (10(-5) to 10(-3) M). 4. Collagen synthesis, determined by measuring hydroxyproline levels, was stimulated with transforming growth factor-beta1 (40 pM), angiotensin II (10(-7) M) or 2% foetal bovine serum. The increase in collagen production, normalised by cell number, was reduced dramatically (to at or near basal production) by ANP (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) but not C-ANF4-23 (10(-7) M) in the presence of zaprinast. Again 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (10(-5) to 10(-3) M) reproduced the effect. 5. ANP is capable of inhibiting collagen synthesis in adult rat and human cardiac fibroblasts via cyclic GMP, a property unmasked and enhanced by inhibition of PDE5.     

Prothrombin kringle-2 domain has a growth inhibitory activity against basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated capillary endothelial cells

Recently, O'Reilly et al. (O'Reilly, M. S., Holmgren, L., Shing, Y., Chen, C., Rosenthal, R. A., Moses, M., Lane, W. S., Cao, Y., Sage, E. H., and Folkman, J. (1994) Cell 79, 315-328; O'Reilly, M. S., Boehm, T., Shing, Y., Fukai, N., Vasios, G., Lane, W. S., Flynn, E., Birkhead, J. R., Olsen, B. R., and Folkman, J. (1997) Cell 88, 277-285) developed a simple in vitro angiogenesis assay system using bovine capillary endothelial cell proliferation and purified potent angiogenic inhibitors, including angiostatin and endostatin. Using a simple in vitro assay for angiogenesis, we purified a protein molecule that showed anti-endothelial cell proliferative activity from the serum of New Zealand White rabbits, which was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. The purified protein showed only bovine capillary endothelial cell growth inhibition and not any cytotoxicity. This molecule was identified as a prothrombin kringle-2 domain (fragment-2) using Edman degradation and the amino acid sequence deduced from the cloned cDNA. Both the prothrombin kringle-2 domain released from prothrombin by factor Xa cleavage and the angiogenic inhibitor purified from rabbit sera exhibited anti-endothelial cell proliferative activity. The recombinant rabbit prothrombin kringle-2 domain showed potent inhibitory activity with half-maximal concentrations (ED50) of 2 microg/ml media. As in angiostatin, the recombinant rabbit prothrombin kringle-2 domain also inhibited angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryos.