Effect of taxol and taxotere on gene expression in macrophages: induction of the prostaglandin H synthase-2 isoenzyme

Induction of genes encoding cytokines or other, unidentified proteins may contribute to the pharmacological effects of taxol. We hypothesized that prostaglandin H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) was one of the unidentified genes induced by taxol. Taxol alone or taxol plus IFN-gamma increased PGE2 formation, PGHS-2 protein expression, and PGHS-2 mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The kinetics for mRNA induction, protein expression, and catalysis were self-consistent. A selective inhibitor of PGHS-2 blocked PGE2 formation by cells incubated with taxol; a selective inhibitor of PGHS-1 had no effect. A glucocorticoid blocked the induction of mRNA, the expression of PGHS-2 protein, and the formation of PGE2. Neither taxol alone nor taxol plus IFN-gamma altered the expression of the PGHS-1 isoenzyme in RAW 264.7 cells. Taxotere, an analogue that stabilizes microtubules as potently as taxol, did not alter the expression of PGHS-2, implying that its induction in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages did not originate from microtubule stabilization. Taxol and taxotere each induced PGHS-2 expression in human monocytes suspended in 10% human serum. However, human monocytes suspended in 10% bovine serum responded only to LPS, not to taxol or taxotere, implying that they act independently of the LPS-mimetic process that is prominent in mice. Taxol induced PGHS-2 in human and murine monocytes via a p38 mitogen-associated protein kinase pathway. The inclusion of PGHS-2 among the early response genes induced in leukocytes may be relevant to the beneficial and adverse effects encountered during taxol administration.     

Protein serine/threonine kinases (PKA, PKC and CaMKII) involved in ischemic brain pathology

Triptoquinone A (TQA), which is an anti-inflammatory constituent in plants, was studied for its suppressive effect on nitric oxide production by LPS. TQA significantly suppressed smooth muscle relaxation and increase in cyclic GMP levels by nitric oxide (NO) in an L-arginine-induced relaxation experiment. The mechanistic studies showed that TQA did not directly inhibit NO radicals and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme but suppressed IL-1 beta and iNOS mRNA expression by LPS. The suppression level of iNOS gene expression by TQA was comparable to that by dexamethasone. TQA may be a useful candidate for the development of a drug as a potent inhibitor of iNOS gene over-expression.     

Effect of cycloheximide on the expression of LPS-inducible iNOS, IFN-beta, and IRF-1 genes in J774 macrophages

The effect of cycloheximide (CHX) on the gene expression for inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interferon (IFN)-beta, and IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-1 was examined in LPS-stimulated J774 macrophages. LPS caused increased expression of mRNAs specific for iNOS, IFN-beta, and IRF-1 with different kinetics. Addition of CHX resulted in inhibition of the LPS-induced iNOS gene expression and parallel decrease in NO production. In contrast, expression of IFN-beta and IRF-1 genes in response to LPS was potentiated in the presence of CHX. These results indicate that de novo protein synthesis is not required for IFN-beta and IRF-1 gene expression and that ongoing protein synthesis including IFN-beta and IRF-1 may be involved in the induction process of iNOS in mouse macrophages.     

Aflatoxin B1-induced suppression of nitric oxide production in murine peritoneal macrophages

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatocarcinogen, is known to impair specific and non-specific immune responses. AFB1 mainly decreases lymphocyte functions and may also affect macrophages assisting lymphocyte functions. Macrophages play an important role in a host defense against tumors and bacteria. Furthermore, some macrophage products, including nitric oxide (NO), may be involved in cytotoxicity. The effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated on NO production from murine peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages were pretreated with AFB1 for 24 h and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. AFB1 at 10 or 50 microM reduced the production of NO. Compared to vehicle control, there was a greater reduction of NO production with increased AFB1 pretreatment and LPS stimulation. AFB1 at 10 or 50 microM decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity about 24% and 28%, respectively, after stimulation with 1 microg/ml LPS and about 12% and 24%, respectively, after stimulation with 10 microg/ml LPS. AFB1 pretreatment also decreased the synthesis of iNOS protein and the mRNA of macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that AFB1 pretreatment reduces NO production from murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated by LPS, which is mediated by the reduction of iNOS activity, mRNA, and protein.     

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BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is cytostatic for proliferating cells, inhibits microbial growth, and down-regulates the synthesis of specific proteins. Studies were undertaken to determine the mechanism by which NO inhibits total protein synthesis and whether the inhibition correlates with established cytostatic activities of NO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In in vitro experiments, various cell types were exposed to NO using either donors or expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The capacity of NO to suppress total protein synthesis, measured by incorporation of 35S-methionine into protein, was correlated with the capacity of NO to suppress cell proliferation, viral replication, or iNOS expression. Phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha was examined as a possible mechanism for the suppressed protein synthesis by NO. RESULTS: Both NO donors and expression of the iNOS suppressed total protein synthesis in L929 cells and A2008 human ovarian tumor cells in parallel with decreased cell proliferation. Suppressed protein synthesis was also shown to correlate with decreased vaccinia virus proliferation in murine peritoneal macrophages in an iNOS-dependent manner. Furthermore, iNOS expression in pancreatic islets or RAW264.7 cells almost completely inhibited total protein synthesis, suggesting that nonspecific inhibition of protein synthesis may be the mechanism by which NO inhibited the synthesis of specific proteins such as insulin or iNOS itself. This possibility was confirmed in RAW264.7 cells where the inhibition of total protein synthesis correlated with the decreased iNOS protein. The decrease in protein levels occurred without changes in iNOS mRNA levels, implicating an inhibition of translation. Mechanistic studies revealed that iNOS expression in RAW264.7 cells resulted in the phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha and inhibition of the 80S ribosomal complex formation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NO suppresses protein synthesis by stimulating the phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha. Furthermore, our observations indicate that nonspecific inhibition of protein synthesis may be a generalized response of cells exposed to high levels of NO and that inhibition of protein synthesis may contribute to many of the described cytostatic actions of NO.     

Mechanism of suppression of macrophage nitric oxide release by IL-13: influence of the macrophage population

IL-13 is a cytokine produced by T lymphocytes, mast cells, basophils, and certain B cell lines that up-regulates or inhibits various macrophage functions. In the present study we analyzed the mechanisms of suppression of nitric oxide (NO) release by IL-13 in the macrophage cell line J774A.1 and in thioglycolate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages. In both cell types efficient reduction (>80%) of NO production required treatment of the macrophages with IL-13 for at least 7 h before stimulation with IFN-gamma and LPS. In J774A.1 cells, increasing concentrations of IFN-gamma partially antagonized the suppression mediated by IL-13, whereas in peritoneal macrophages, the inhibitory effect of IL-13 was largely independent of the concentrations of IFN-gamma and LPS. In J774A.1 cells, IL-13 strongly reduced both the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS, NOS-2), as determined by Northern blot analysis and immunoprecipitation. In peritoneal macrophages, in contrast, IL-13 decreased iNOS protein and enzyme activities after 8 to 48 h of stimulation, without altering the expression of iNOS mRNA. Pulse labeling with [35S]methionine revealed that IL-13 caused a 4.7-fold reduction of the de novo synthesis of iNOS protein in these cells. These data demonstrate for the first time that IL-13 is capable of regulating iNOS at both the mRNA and translational levels and underline the important influence of the macrophage population when studying mechanisms of cytokine functions.     

Differential regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by microtubule-binding agents in human breast cancer cells

Drug design targeted at microtubules has led to the advent of some potent anti-cancer drugs. In the present study, we demonstrated that microtubule-binding agents (MBAs) taxol and colchicine induced immediate early gene (c-jun and ATF3) expression, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. To elucidate the signal transduction pathways that mediate such biological activities of MBAs, we studied the involvement of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Treatment with taxol, colchicine, or other MBAs (vincristine, podophyllotoxin, nocodazole) stimulated the activity of c-jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) in MCF-7 cells. In contrast, p38 was activated only by taxol and none of the MBAs changed the activity of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2). Activation of JNK1 or p38 by MBAs occurred subsequent to the morphological changes in the microtubule cytoskeleton induced by these compounds. Furthermore, baccatine III and beta-lumicolchicine, inactive analogs of taxol and colchicine, respectively, did not activate JNKI or p38. These results suggest that interactions between microtubules and MBAs are essential for the activation of these kinases. Pretreatment with the antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), ascorbic acid or vitamin E, blocked H2O2- or doxorubicin-induced JNKI activity, but had no effect on JNKI activation by MBAs, excluding a role for oxidative stress. However, BAPTA/AM, a specific intracellular Ca2+ chelator, attenuated JNK1 activation by taxol but not by colchicine, and had no effect on microtubule changes induced by taxol. Thus, stabilization or depolymerization of microtubules may regulate JNK1 activity via distinct downstream signaling pathways. The differential activation of MAP kinases opens up a new avenue for addressing the mechanism of action of antimicrotubule drugs.     

Cell-specific effects of pentoxifylline on nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression

Cytokine-stimulated astrocytes and macrophages are potent producers of nitric oxide (NO), a free radical proposed to play an important role in organ-specific autoimmunity, including demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with immunomodulatory properties, on NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression in rat astrocytes and macrophages. We have shown that PTX affects cytokine (interferon-gamma, IFN-gamma; interleukin-1, IL-1; tumour-necrosis factor-alpha, TNF-alpha)-induced NO production in both cell types, but in the opposite manner--enhancing in astrocytes and suppressive in macrophages. While PTX did not have any effect on enzymatic activity of iNOS in activated cells, expression of iNOS mRNA was elevated in astrocytes and decreased in macrophages treated with cytokines and PTX. Treatment with PTX alone affected neither NO production nor iNOS mRNA levels in astrocytes or macrophages. This study indicates involvement of different signalling pathways associated with iNOS induction in astrocytes and macrophages, thus emphasizing complexity of regulation of NO synthesis in different cell types.     

Rapid estimation of regurgitant volume by the proximal isovelocity surface area method in mitral regurgitation: Can continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography be omitted?

To determine whether heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein is induced by endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in rat glial cultures, we examined the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and NO donors such as S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), in mixed glial cells and in vivo rat hippocampus. In cultured glial cells, treatment with LPS induced the expression of 130-kd inducible NO synthase (iNOS) after 6 h, and NO2- accumulation and enhancement of the protein level of 33-kd HO-1 after 12 h. In addition, treatment with SNAP induced HO-1 expression after 6 h. Although NOS inhibitors such as NG-nitro-L-arginine (NNA) and NG-methyl-L-arginine did not change LPS-induced iNOS expression, these inhibitors suppressed both NO2- accumulation and the enhancement of HO-1. Immunocytochemistry showed that treatment with LPS for 24 h induced iNOS immunoreactivity predominantly in ameboid microglia, while this treatment induced HO-1-immunoreactivity in both microglia and astrocytes. In in vivo rat hippocampus, microinjection of LPS plus IFN-gamma, or SNAP after 24 h also induced HO-1 immunoreactivity in reactive microglia and astrocytes. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of NNA inhibited HO-1 immunoreactivity induced by the microinjection of LPS plus IFN-gamma. These results suggest that endogenous NO production by iNOS in microglia causes autocrine and paracrine induction of HO-1 protein in microglia and astrocytes in vitro and in rat brain.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the eye from endotoxin-induced uveitis rats

PURPOSE: Inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). This study was undertaken to localize the cells, in the eye, which express iNOS during EIU in the rat. METHODS: EIU was induced in Lewis rats by a single foot pad injection of 150 micrograms lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella typhimurium. At different time intervals after LPS injection, the authors evaluated ocular inflammation (slit lamp observation), iNOS localization by in situ hybridization, and comparison of OX-42- and ED1-positive cell appearance and of glial response by specific immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: iNOS mRNA was not detected in the iris-ciliary body nor in the retina of control rats. It was detected strongly in the epithelial cells of the iris-ciliary body at 6 hours and also in stromal cells of the ciliary processes at 16 hours after LPS injection. In the neuroretina, iNOS mRNA was observed in the inner layers 16 hours after LPS injection. iNOS-positive cells were also present on the vitreous at this time. At 6 and approximately 16 hours after LPS injection, immunohistochemistry experiments revealed a large number of OX-42- and ED1-positive cells (microglia, macrophages, or polymorphonuclear leukocytes) colocalized in part with some iNOS-positive cells in the ciliary body and in the retina. Furthermore, expression of iNOS in Müller cells cannot be excluded. CONCLUSIONS: These observations confirm that subcutaneous injection of endotoxin dramatically induces NOS mRNA expression in the eye, and they demonstrate that epithelial cells of the iris-ciliary body and cells infiltrating the anterior segment of the eye and the retina are the major source of NO. These results support the hypothesis that both inflammatory and resident ocular cells are involved in iNOS expression during EIU.     

Interleukin-13 is a more potent inhibitor of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in smooth muscle cells than in macrophages: a comparison with interleukin-4 and interleukin-10

This study compares the effects of interleukin (IL)-13, a cytokine with anti-inflammatory properties, with those of IL-4 or IL-10 on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein and activity in 1) a murine macrophage cell line (J774.2) activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 2) rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASM) activated with LPS plus interferon-gamma. Pretreatment of macrophages with IL-4 or IL-13 caused a similar, concentration-dependent inhibition of the formation of nitrite and the expression of iNOS protein elicited by LPS. In contrast, IL-13 was a much more potent inhibitor of the formation of nitrite and the expression of iNOS protein in activated RASM than IL-4. IL-10 caused only a small, but significant, inhibition of the nitrite formation induced by LPS in macrophages and RASM. Pretreatment of J774.2 macrophages, but not of RASM, with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin (10-100 nM), attenuated the inhibition by either IL-13 or IL-4 of the LPS-induced increase in nitrite in a dose-related fashion. Thus, IL-13 is more potent than IL-4 in preventing the expression of iNOS protein and activity in activated RASM, whereas IL-13 and IL-4 are equipotent in inhibiting the expression of iNOS protein and activity in J774.2 macrophages.