Beata Grygier

Inhibitory effects of amantadine on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by stimulated in vitro human blood

Treatment with amantadine (AMA), an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and antidepressant drug, increased the antidepressant activity of subsequent drugs in experimental studies and in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Recent evidence indicates that depression may be accompanied by activation of an inflammatory response. These data indicate that pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the etiology of depression, particularly in TRD. The present in vitro study shows the ability of AMA, used at concentrations between 10(-7) to 10(-5) M, to reduce the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In addition, AMA treatment increased the production of the negative immunoregulator, interleukin-10 (IL-10). Furthermore, the combined treatment of AMA with fluoxetine (FLU), but not imipramine (IMI), had a stronger immunomodulatory effect on cytokine production than AMA alone. The above data provide additional rationale for the treatment of patients suffering from depression with a combination of AMA and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Stimulatory effect of antidepressant drug pretreatment on progression of B16F10 melanoma in high-active male and female C57BL/6J mice

The effect of a two-week desipramine or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment on B16F10 melanoma growth in 3-5 month old female and male C57BL/6J mice differing in behavioral characteristics (high- vs. low-active) was compared. Antidepressant pretreatment increased metastasis formation, shortened the survival, decreased splenocyte anti-tumor natural killer cell cytotoxicity (in vitro), and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12p40, IFN-γ production while it increased anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 production in high-active males (desipramine) or females (fluoxetine). The obtained results emphasize a stimulatory effect of pretreatment with antidepressants on progress of B16F10 melanoma that depends on gender and behavioral characteristics of the animal.

Neuroprotective effects of mGluR II and III activators against staurosporine- and doxorubicin-induced cellular injury in SH-SY5Y cells: New evidence for a mechanism involving inhibition of AIF translocation

There are several experimental data sets demonstrating the neuroprotective effects of activation of group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR II/III), however, their effect on neuronal apoptotic processes has yet to be fully recognized. Thus, the comparison of the neuroprotective potency of the mGluR II agonist LY354740, mGluR III agonist ACPT-I, mGluR4 PAM VU0361737, mGluR8 PAM AZ12216052 and allosteric mGluR7 agonist AMN082 against staurosporine (St-) and doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cell death has been performed in undifferentiated (UN-) and retinoic acid differentiated (RA-) human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The highest neuroprotection in UN-SH-SY5Y cells was noted for AZ12216052 (0.01-1 µM) and VU0361737 (1-10 µM), with both agents partially attenuating the St- and Dox-evoked cell death. LY354740 (0.01-10 µM) and ACPT-I (10 µM) were protective only against the St-evoked cell damage, whereas AMN082 (0.001-0.01 µM) attenuated only the Dox-induced cell death. In RA-SH-SY5Y, a moderate neuroprotective response of mGluR II/III activators was observed for LY354740 (10 µM) and AZ12216052 (0.01 and 10 µM), which afforded protection only against the St-induced cell damage. The protection mediated by mGluR II/III activators against the St- and Dox-evoked cell death in UN-SH-SY5Y cells was not related to attenuation of caspase-3 activity, however, a decrease in the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei was found. Moreover, mGluR II/III activators attenuated the cytosolic level of the apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), which was increased after St and Dox exposure. Our data point to differential neuroprotective efficacy of various mGluR II/III activators in attenuating St- and Dox-evoked cell damage in SH-SY5Y cells, and dependence of the effects on the cellular differentiation state, as well on the type of the pro-apoptotic agent that is employed. Moreover, the neuroprotection mediated by mGluR II/III activators is accompanied by inhibition of caspase-3-independent DNA fragmentation evoked by AIF translocation.

Inhibitory effect of antidepressants on B16F10 melanoma tumor growth.

BACKGROUND Antidepressant drugs, like fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, desipramine, a nonselective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, and mirtazapine, an antagonist of noradrenaline α2 auto- and heteroreceptors, are widely used for the treatment of depressive symptoms in cancer patients. Since these antidepressants have different activities targeting the immune system, they might also modulate tumor growth in cancer patients. METHODS In the present study, we investigated the effects of administration of antidepressant drugs: fluoxetine, desipramine and mirtazapine on B16F10 melanoma tumor growth. These drugs were administered intraperitoneally (ip) for 17 days after subcutaneous injection of B16F10 melanoma cells to male C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS Fluoxetine significantly inhibited melanoma solid tumor growth and desipramine tended to decrease this parameter whereas mirtazapine had no effect. CONCLUSION The inhibitory effect of fluoxetine on melanoma growth was associated with an increased mitogen-induced T cell proliferation which may at least partly participate in the mechanism of the antitumor effect of this antidepressant. It appears that the inhibitory effect of fluoxetine on tumor growth is not related with changes in cytokine levels except for IL-10.

An endogenous and ectopic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 (mGluR8) inhibits proliferation and increases chemosensitivity of human neuroblastoma and glioma cells

The present study aimed to determine the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 (mGluR8) in tumor biology. Using various molecular approaches (RNAi or GRM8 cDNA), cell clones with downregulated (human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and human glioma LN229) or overexpressed (human glioma U87-MG and LN18 cell lines) mGluR8 were generated. Next, comparative studies on cell proliferation and migration rates, induction of apoptosis and chemosensitivity were performed among these clones. The mGluR8-downregulated SH-SY5Y clones proliferated faster and were more resistant to cytotoxic action of staurosporine, doxorubicin, irinotecan and cisplatin when compared to control cells. Moreover, these clones were characterized by a lower activity of caspases, calpains and some kinases (GSK-3β, Akt and JNK). The mGluR8-downregulated LN229 clones migrated faster and were less prone to cell-damaging effect of staurosporine and irinotecan when compared with relevant control cells. In contrast, in GRM8-overexpressing U87-MG and LN18 clones, a decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis and elevated vulnerability to some cytotoxic agents were found. Altogether, our in vitro data for the first time evidenced a tumor suppressor and chemosensitizing role of mGluR8.

Allosteric and Orthosteric Activators of mGluR8 Differentially Affect the Chemotherapeutic-Induced Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cell Damage: The Impact of Cell Differentiation State

The participation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in cancer growth and progression is still an understudied issue. Based on our recent data on high expression of mGluR8 in human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells, in this study, we evaluated the effect of an mGluR8‐specific positive allosteric modulator (PAM: AZ12216052) and orthosteric agonist [(S)‐3,4‐DCPG ((S)‐3,4‐dicarboxyphenylglycine)] on chemotherapeutic (doxorubicin, irinotecan or cisplatin)‐evoked cell damage in undifferentiated (UN‐) and retinoic acid‐differentiated (RA‐) SH‐SY5Y cells. The data showed that AZ12216052 as well as a group III mGluR antagonist (UBP1112) but not (S)‐3,4‐DCPG partially inhibited the cell damage evoked by doxorubicin, irinotecan or cisplatin in UN‐SH‐SY5Y cells. In RA‐SH‐SY5Y, we observed only a modest protective effect of mGluR8 PAM. In contrast, both types of mGluR8 activators significantly enhanced toxic effects of doxorubicin and irinotecan in RA‐SH‐SY5Y cells. These data suggest that in undifferentiated neuroblastoma malignant cells, some mGluR8 modulators can decrease cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutics which exclude them from the group of putative anticancer agents. On the other hand, in SH‐SY5Y cells differentiated to a more mature neuron‐like phenotype, that is non‐malignant cells, the mGluR8 activators can aggravate the chemotherapeutic neurotoxicity which is a well‐known undesired effect of these drugs. Our pharmacological data add new observations to the unexplored field of research on the role of mGluR8 in cancer, pointing to complexity of response which could be mediated by particular types of mGluR8 ligands at least in neuroblastoma cells.

Antioxidant activity of fluoxetine: Studies in mice melanoma model

347 Immunoreactivity and oxidative stress parameters in animals subjected to chronic mild stress model of depression M. Kubera , M. Leskiwicz , L. Danuta , M. Kirkova , A. Roman , P. Gruca , J. Detka , A. Basta-Kaim , B. Budziszewska , M. Regulska , B. Grygier , W. Lason a a Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Smetna 12, 31-343 Krakow, Poland b University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland c Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia,