Hermann P. T. Ammon

Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA): structure requirements for binding and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity

1 5‐Lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) products from endogenous arachidonic acid in ionophore‐stimulated peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and from exogenous substrate (20 μm) in 105,000 g supernatants were measured. 2 The effects of natural pentacyclic triterpenes and their derivatives on 5‐LOX activity were compared with the inhibitory action of acetyl‐11‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid (AKBA), which has been previously shown to inhibit the 5‐LOX by a selective, enzyme‐directed, non‐redox and non‐competitive mechanism. 3 The 5‐LOX inhibitory potency of AKBA was only slightly diminished by deacetylation of the acetoxy group or reduction of the carboxyl function to alcohol in intact cells (IC50=1.5 vs. 3 and 4.5 μm, respectively) and in the cell‐free system (8 vs. 20 and 45 μm). 4 β‐Boswellic acid (β‐BA), lacking the 11‐keto function, inhibited 5‐LOX only partially and incompletely, whereas the corresponding alcohol from β‐BA, as well as amyrin, acetyl‐11‐keto‐amyrin, 11‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid methyl ester had no 5‐LOX inhibitory activity up to 50 μm in either system. 5 β‐BA only partially prevented the AKBA‐induced 5‐LOX inhibition, whereas the non‐inhibitory compounds, amyrin and acetyl‐11‐keto‐amyrin, almost totally antagonized the AKBA effect and shifted the concentration‐inhibition curve for the incomplete inhibitor β‐BA to the right. In contrast, the non‐inhibitory 11‐keto‐β‐BA methyl ester exerted no antagonizing effect. 6 The results demonstrate that the pentacyclic triterpene ring system is crucial for binding to the highly selective effector site, whereas functional groups (especially the 11‐keto function in addition to a hydrophilic group on C4 of ring A) are essential for 5‐LOX inhibitory activity.

Evidence That Cholecystokinin Interacts with Specific Receptors and Regulates Insulin Release in Isolated Rat Islets of Langerhans

To determine the nature of the pancreatic islet cell cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor, we studied CCK receptor binding and biologic activity in isolated rat pancreatic islets. Binding of 70 pM 125I-CCK to collagenase-prepared isolated rat pancreatic islets at 24°C was one-half maximal after 5 min and maximal at 60 min. At 60 min, specific binding was 12% of total radioactivity per 100 μg islet protein; nonspecific binding (in the presence of 1 μM CCK 8) was less than 2% of total radioactivity. Unlabeled CCK 33 inhibited labeled hormone binding one-half maximally at 2 nM; Scatchard analysis showed one binding site (Kd, 2.3 ± 0.4 nM; Bmax, 8.1 pmol/mg protein). The agonist selectivity of this binding site was: CCK 8 = CCK 33>desulfated-CCK 8>CCK 4. Two CCK antagonists were studied; N-carbobenzoxy-L-tryptophan was more potent than dibutyryl-cGMP. When the effect of CCK on insulin release from the islets was studied, the order of potency of CCK agonists and antagonists on insulin secretion was the same as the order of their ability to inhibit 125I-CCK binding. The effect of CCK on insulin secretion was dependent on the glucose concentration in the media. CCK had no effect at 5.6 mM glucose and was fully effective at 11.0 mM glucose. These data, therefore, indicate that: (1) specific binding sites for CCK are present in rat pancreatic beta, cells; and (2) CCK acts in concert with glucose to stimulate insulin secretion.

Interference of H2O2 with stimulus‐secretion coupling in mouse pancreatic β‐cells

1 We have reported previously that in mouse pancreatic β‐cells H2O2 hyperpolarizes the membrane and increases the ATP‐sensitive K+ current recorded in the perforated patch configuration of the patch‐clamp technique. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. 2 The intracellular ATP concentration measured by chemoluminescence was reduced by H2O2. The ADP concentration increased in parallel during the first 10 min, resulting in a pronounced decrease in the ATP/ADP ratio. 3 Consistent with these results, glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets was inhibited by H2O2. 4 Membrane hyperpolarization measured with intracellular microelectrodes in intact islets and inhibition of insulin secretion were counteracted by tolbutamide, indicating that the channels are still responsive to inhibitors and that the ATP concentration is not too low to trigger exocytosis. However, the sensitivity of the β‐cells to tolbutamide was reduced after treatment with H2O2. 5 H2O2 increased the intracellular Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i) in a biphasic manner. A first transient rise in [Ca2+]i due to mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores was followed by a sustained increase, which was at least partly dependent on Ca2+ influx. The first phase seems to reflect Ca2+ mobilization from mitochondria. 6 Our results demonstrate that H2O2 interferes with glucose metabolism, which influences the membrane potential and ATP‐sensitive K+ current via the intracellular concentration of ATP. These events finally lead to an inhibition of insulin secretion despite an increase in [Ca2+]i.

Modulation of the immune system by Boswellia serrata extracts and boswellic acids.

Extracts from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and some of is constituents including boswellic acids affect the immune system in different ways. Among the various boswellic acids 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA) and acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid have been observed to be active. However, also other boswellic acids may exhibit actions in the immune system. In the humoral defence system a mixture of boswellic acis at higher doses reduced primary antibody titres; on the other hand lower doses enhanced secondary antibody titres following treatment with sheep erythrocytes. In the cellular defence boswellic acides appear to increase lymphocyte proliferation whereas higher concentrations are even inhibitory. Moreover, BAs increase phagocytosis of macrophages. BAs affect the cellular defence system by interaction with production/release of cytokines. Thus, BAs inhibit activation of NFkappaB which is a product of neutrophile granulocytes. Consequently a down regulation of TNF-alpha and decrease of IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IFN-gamma, which are proinflammatory cytokines by BEs and BAs has been reported. Suppressions of the classic way of the complement system was found to be due to inhibition of the conversion of C3 into C3a and C3b. However, which of these pharmacological actions contribute to the therapeutic effects and which is finally the best dosage of a standardized extract needs further examination. And it is also a question whether or not a single BA will have the same therapeutic effect as a standardized extract. Among the mediators of inflammatory reaction, mast cell stabilisation has been described by a BE. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis appears to play only a minor role as far as the anti-inflammatory effect is concerned. On the other hand the inhibitory action of BAs on 5-LO leading to a decreased production of leukotrienes has received high attention by the scientific community since a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases is associatied with increased leukotriene activity. At the end of the cascade of events in the cellular immune system as far as it directs to various tissues of the body - i.e. autoimmune diseases - formation of oxygen radicals and proteases (for example elastase) play an important destructive role. Here, BEs as well as BAs have been found to be inhibitory. From the pharmacological properties of BEs and BAs it is not surprising that positive effects of BEs in some chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease have been reported.

Islet Glutathione and Insulin Release

In isolated rat pancreatic islets, glucose (5.6,11.1, and 16.7 mM) significantly increased reduced glutathione (GSH) and decreased oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in a dose-related manner. This was paralleled by a concomitant increase of NADPH and a decrease of NADP. The change of the GSH level occurred as quickly as one minute after addition of glucose. Exogenous insulin (200, 400, and 800 μU/ml) significantly decreased islet GSH levels in the presence of 5.6 and 16.7 mM glucose and significantly inhibited the insulin-releasing effect of the thiol reagent parachloromercuribenzoate (p-CMB) and tolbutamide. These data, together with earlier observations, suggest that GSH levels in pancreatic islets are increased by glucose and decreased by exogenous insulin via their effects on the pentose phosphate shunt and NADPH. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that glucose and exogenous insulin, by modifying the redox state of the NADPH/NADP and GSH/GSSG systems, modulate the sensitivity of the β-cell to the insulin-triggering actions of glucose, p-CMB, and tolbutamide.

Encapsulation of islets in rough surface, hydroxymethylated polysulfone capillaries stimulates VEGF release and promotes vascularization after transplantation.

The transplantation of encapsulated islets of Langerhans is one approach to treat type 1 diabetes without the need of lifelong immunosuppression. Capillaries have been used for macroencapsulation because they have a favorable surface-to-volume ratio and because they can be refilled. It is unclear at present whether the outer surface of such capillaries should be smooth to prevent, or rough to promote, cell adhesions. In this study we tested a new capillary made of modified polysulfone (MWCO: 50 kDa) with a rough, open-porous outer surface for islet transplantation. Compared with free-floating islets, encapsulation of freshly isolated rat islets affected neither the kinetics nor the efficiency of glucose-induced insulin release in perifusion experiments. Free-floating islets maintained insulin secretion during cell culture but encapsulated islets gradually lost their glucose responsiveness and released VEGF. This indicated hypoxia in the capillary lumen. Transplantation of encapsulated rat islets into diabetic rats significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations from the first week of implantation. This hypoglycaemic effect persisted until explantation 4 weeks later. Transplantation of encapsulated porcine islets into diabetic rats reduced blood glucose concentrations depending on the islet purity. With semipurified islets a transient reduction of blood glucose concentrations was observed (2, 8, 18, 18 days) whereas with highly purified islets a sustained normoglycaemia was achieved (more than 28 days). Explanted capillaries containing rat islets were covered with blood vessels. Vascularization was also observed on capillaries containing porcine islets that were explanted from normoglycaemic rats. In contrast, on capillaries containing porcine islets that were explanted from hyperglycemic rats a fibrous capsule and lymphocyte accumulations were observed. No vascularization on the surface of transplanted capillaries was observed in the absence of islets. In conclusion, encapsulated islets can release VEGF, which appears to be an important signal for the vascularization of the capillary material. The rough, open-porous outer surface of the polysulfone capillary provides a site well suited for vascular tissue formation and may allow a prolonged islet function after transplantation.

Protection by boswellic acids against galactosamine/endotoxin-induced hepatitis in mice

In the present study, we investigated the in vivo effect of the acetyl-boswellic acids (ac-BA) after oral application on the galactosamine/salmonella endotoxin-induced liver damage in mice. The data indicate that pretreatment by ac-BA 1 hr before the intoxication substantially reduced increased levels of serum enzyme activities

A test system for leukotriene synthesis inhibitors based on the in-vitro differentiation of the human leukemic cell lines HL-60 and Mono Mac 6

Differentiation of HL-60 cells along the granulocytic lineage by DMSO in the presence of transforming growth factor-β and low concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 leads to the upregulation of 5-lipoxygenase activity in 100,000 g supernatants and intact cells to levels which are comparable to normal granulocytes. Similarly, differentiation of the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and transforming growth factor-β strongly upregulates the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Here, we describe an assay system for leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors which is based on the in-vitro differentiation of HL-60 and Mono Mac 6 cells. Different leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors like the nonredox type inhibitor ZM 230487, the redox type inhibitor BW A4C and the FLAP inhibitor MK886 were tested and the results were compared with an assay system based on normal human granulocytes. ZM 230487, BWA4C and MK886 showed similar potencies in these cell lines as compared to normal leukocytes. Thus, the in-vitro differentiation of HL-60 and Mono Mac 6 cells provides an excellent model for the screening of drugs affecting the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.

Prevention of multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) diabetes in mice by an extract from gum resin of Boswellia serrata (BE)

Type 1-diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where a chronic inflammatory process finally causes β-cell death and insulin deficiency. Extracts from gum resin of Boswellia serrata (BE) have been shown to posses anti-inflammatory properties especially by targeting factors/mediators related to autoimmune diseases. Multiple low dose-streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) treatment is a method to induce diabetes in animals similar to Type 1 diabetes in humans. It was aimed to study whether or not a BE could prevent hyperglycemia, inflammation of pancreatic islets and increase of proinflammatory cytokines in the blood in MLD-STZ treated mice. In BK+/+ wild type mice, 5 days of daily treatment with 40 mg/kg STZ i.p. produced permanent increase of blood glucose, infiltration of lymphocytes into pancreatic islets (CD3-stain), apoptosis of periinsular cells (staining for activated caspase 3) after 10 days as well as shrinking of islet tissue after 35 days (H&E staining). This was associated with an increase of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α) in the blood. Whereas BE alone did not affect blood glucose in non diabetic mice, in STZ treated mice simultaneous i.p. injection of 150 mg/kg of BE over 10 days prevented animals from increase of blood glucose levels. Histochemical studies showed, that i.p. injection of 150 mg/kg BE for 10 days starting with STZ treatment, avoided lymphocyte infiltration into islets, apoptosis of periinsular cells and shrinking of islet size 35 days after STZ. As far as the cytokines tested are concerned, there was a significant inhibition of the increase of G-CSF and GM-CSF. BE also significantly prevented the increase of IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α. It is concluded that extracts from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata prevent islet destruction and consequent hyperglycemia in an animal model of type 1 diabetes probably by inhibition of the production/action of cytokines related to induction of islet inflammation in an autoimmune process.

Areal density measurement is a convenient method for the determination of porcine islet equivalents without counting and sizing individual islets.

The determination of islet mass is important for the normalization of islet experiments in the laboratory and for the precise dosing of islets for transplantation. The common microscopical analysis is based on individual islet sizing, calculation of the frequency distribution, and conversion into islet equivalents (IEQ), which is the volume of a spherical islet with a diameter of 150 μm. However, islets are of irregular form, which makes this determination user dependent, and the analysis is irreproducible once the original sample is discarded. This routine technique of islet quantification was compared with the analysis of areal density measurements. It was assumed that the entire area occupied by islets can be expressed in IEQ without sizing and counting individual islets. Porcine islets were isolated by continuous digestion/filtration and purified by gradient centrifugation. Purified islets were stained with dithizone and were repeatedly pictured under the microscope with random area selection. A total of 51 pictures was taken from 11 different purifications and stained islets were detected by digital image analysis. The correlation coefficient (r) between both analyses was 0.977 with an underestimation of islet yield by areal density detection (slope: 0.75 ± 0.03). Areal density analysis per picture took about 1 min, which is about 10 times faster than the traditional method without increasing the method error (CV 2.1% vs. 2.7%). In summary, areal density measurements allow a rapid and reproducible estimation of IEQ without counting individual islets. It can be performed in a single step analysis without computer programming and is valuable for online determinations of islet yield preceding transplantation.