Isao Yamatsu

Involvement of tumor necrosis factor-α in the pathogenesis of activated macrophage-mediated hepatitis in mice

The possible involvement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the pathogenesis of an experimentally induced hepatitis was investigated. Balb/c mice were primed with Propionibacterium acnes to induce the infiltration of mononuclear cells into the liver. Immunohistochemical study showed that most of the accumulated mononuclear cells at 7 days were Mac-2 positive, suggesting that they were activated macrophages. An injection of lipopolysaccharide resulted in massive hepatic necrosis and high mortality in the mice within 24 hours. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity initially rose sharply and then declined over 3 hours. The increase in plasma aminotransferase activity correlated well with the elevation of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity. Pretreatment with dexamethasone or 16,16-dimethyl-prostaglandin E2 attenuated not only the elevation of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity but also the increase in plasma aminotransferase activity and improved the survival rate. Passive immunization against tumor necrosis factor-alpha showed protective effects. These findings suggest that tumor necrosis factor-alpha released from activated macrophages may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this murine hepatitis.

Inhibitions of acid secretion by E3810 and omeprazole, and their reversal by glutathione

A substituted benzimidazole ([4-(3-methoxypropoxy)-3-methylpyridine-2-yl]methylsulfinyl)- 1H-benzimidazole sodium salt (E3810), is a gastric proton pump (H+, K(+)-ATPase) inhibitor. E3810 and omeprazole inhibited acid accumulation dose dependently as measured with aminopyrine uptake in isolated rabbit gastric glands, their IC50 values being 0.16 and 0.36 microM, respectively. The addition of exogenous reduced glutathione (GSH) to the gland suspension reactivated dose dependently the acid secretion which had been inhibited by 2 microM E3810 or omeprazole as a function of the incubation time. Furthermore, GSH at 1 and 3 mM reversed the antisecretory effect of E3810 more quickly than it did that of omeprazole. The antisecretory effect of E3810 was slightly greater than that of omeprazole in histamine-stimulated fistula dogs in vivo. The duration of the antisecretory activity of E3810 at concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/kg was shorter than that of omeprazole at the same concentrations in pentagastrin-stimulated fistula dogs. The reversal of the antisecretory activity of the inhibitors in dogs is suggested to be due to the action of endogenous extracellular GSH, in addition to de novo synthesis of the proton pump, because bullfrog gastric mucosae were found in the present study to secrete GSH into the mucosal solution at the rate of about 0.25 nmol/min/g tissue.

E5531, a synthetic non-toxic lipid A derivative blocks the immunobiological activities of lipopolysaccharide

The major pathological responses to Gram‐negative bacterial sepsis are triggered by endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide. As endotoxin is shed from the bacterial outer membrane, it induces immunological responses that lead to release of a variety of cytokines and other cellular mediators. As part of a program aimed at developing a therapeutic agent for septic shock, we have developed E5531, a novel synthetic lipopolysaccharide antagonist. As measured by release by tumour necrosis factor‐α, human monocytes or whole blood can be activated by lipopolysaccharide, lipid A, and lipoteichoic acid (from Gram‐positive bacteria). E5531 potently antagonizes activation by all these agents while itself being devoid of agonistic activity. The inhibitory activity of E5531 was dependent on time of addition. When 10 nM E5531 was added simultaneously with lipopolysaccharide or 1–3 h before addition of lipopolysaccharide, production of tumour necrosis factor‐α was inhibited by more than 98%. The addition of E5531 1 h after lipopolysaccharide reduced the efficacy of E5531 by 47%. Antagonistic activity of E5531 was specific for lipopolysaccharide as it was ineffective at inhibiting interferon‐γ mediated NO release of RAW 264.7 cells, phorbor 12‐myristate 13‐acetate stimulated superoxide anion production in human neutrophils, concanavalin A stimulated mitogenic activity in murine thymocytes and tumor necrosis factor‐α induced E‐selectin expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. E5531 as well as MY4, an anti‐CD14 antibody, inhibited radiolabelled lipopolysaccharide binding in human monocytes. These results support our contention that E5531 is a potent antagonist of lipopolysaccharide‐induced release of tumour necrosis factor‐α and other cellular mediators and may be an effective therapeutic agent for human septic shock due to Gram‐negative bacteria.

Effects of the Proton Pump Inhibitor, E3810, on Gastric Secretion and Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers or Erosions in Rats

SummaryThe effects of E3810, a potent proton pump inhibitor, on gastric secretion and gastric or duodenal ulcers or erosions were studied in rats. Intraduodenal administration of E3810 dose dependently inhibited gastric secretion (volume and acid outputs) in pylorus-ligated rats. The effective dose required to inhibit volume output by 50% (ED50) was 12 mg/kg and that for acid output was 3.4 mg/kg. Acutely induced gastric ulcers or erosions, such as cold-restraint stress erosions, Shay ulcers and mercaptamine (cysteamine)-induced duodenal ulcers, were significantly inhibited by oral, intraduodenal or subcutaneous administration of E3810 at 1 to 100 mg/kg. The protective effects of E3810 in these acute models were compared with those of omeprazole at the same doses. At low doses, 10 mg/kg (intraduodenally) in Shay ulcers and 3 mg/kg (subcutaneously) in mercaptamine-induced ulcers, E3810 was significantly more effective than omeprazole. But at high doses, there was no significant difference between the 2 drugs in efficacy. In the cold stress erosion model, the drugs were equally effective.

Suppressive effects of E3330, a novel quinone derivative, on tumor necrosis factor-α generation from monocytes and macrophages

E3330 {(2E)-3-[5-(2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinoyl)]-2-nonly-2-propenoic acid}, a novel synthesized hepatoprotective compound, has suppressive effects on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) generation from monocytes/macrophagesin vitro. E3330 (1–100 μM) reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/ml or 1μg/ml)-induced TNF-α generation from rat resident andPropionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)-elicited peritoneal macrophages, rat and human monocytes, rat Kupffer cells, and splenic mononuclear cells in a concentration-dependent manner. E3330 also (1–100 μM) suppressed TNF-α generation stimulated with egg-albumin immune complex in ratP. acnes-elicited peritoneal macrophages. Northern blot analysis showed that LPS-induced expression of TNF-α messenger RNA (mRNA) in human blood monocytes was suppressed by E3330. These findings indicate that E3330 has a suppressive effect on TNF-α generation from monocytes/macrophages, regardless of origin or species, and this effect is based in part on the suppression of TNF-α mRNA expression.

Synthesis of glucuronides of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids

Abstract A practical synthetic method for glucuronides of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids is described. An essential point of this method is the use of groups removable using non-reducing conditions for the protection of the glucuronic acid.

Protective effects of E3330, a novel quinone derivative, on galactosamine/tumor necrosis factor-α-induced hepatitis in mice

Oral pretreatment with E3330, a novel quinone derivative, attenuated liver injury induced with tumor necrosis factor-alpha in galactosamine-sensitized mice. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is known to induce inflammatory mediators such as leukotrienes and prostanoids. An in vitro study showed that E3330 inhibited the generation of leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2, but enhanced prostaglandin E2 generation from rat peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with the Ca(2+)-ionophore, A23187. These findings suggest that the protective effect of E3330 on galactosamine/tumor necrosis factor-alpha hepatitis is due at least in part to its inhibition of the generation of leukotrienes. The inhibition of thromboxane B2 generation or the enhancement of prostaglandin E2 generation by E3330 may also contribute to its hepatoprotective effect.

Studies on the role of platelet-activating factor in blood pressure regulation.

Circulating levels of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C16PAF) in human subjects were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using negative ion chemical ionization. The mean (±S.D.) circulating C16PAF levels in patients with essential hypertension (18.1±5.3 pg/mL, n=16) were not significantly different from those in normotensive subjects (17.2±7.2 pg/mL, n=14). During a salt balance study, high salt intake (20 g/day) significantly increased the circulating level of C16PAF, and changes in circulating C16PAF significantly and positively correlated with changes in mean arterial blood pressure (r=0.47, p<0.05). Changes in C16PAF also correlated with changes in creatinine clearance (r=0.55, p<0.05), but did not correlate with changes in plasma sodium concentration, plasma chloride concentration and plasma volume. An intravenous injection of 50 μg of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) decreased circulating C16PAF levels from 20.0±2.7 to 13.9±2.4 pg/mL of blood (n=10, p<0.01) in healthy subjects. The data appear to indicate that C16PAF levels are changed by salt intake-induced mild increase in blood pressure, and that hANP may be an endogenous factor which lowers circulating C16PAF.

Inhibitory effects of E-5110 on interleukin-1 generation from human monocytes

Effects of E-5110, a novel non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, on interleukin-1 (IL-1) generation from human monocytes were studiedin vitro. E-5110 reduced the amounts of extra- and intracellular IL-1 activity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner (1–10μM). E-5110 also inhibited the IL-1 generation induced by antigen-antibody complexes, opsonized zymosan and silica particles. It was suggested that the inhibition of IL-1 generation by E-5110 was independent of the inhibitory effects on arachidonate cyclooxygenase and/or lipoxygenase because indomethacin, piroxicam, BW755C and AA861 had no effects on IL-1 generation. Hydrocortisone (IC50:0.084 μM), aurothioglucose (11.5 μM) and lobenzarit (75.0 μM), which are clinically effective antirheumatic drugs, also inhibited IL-1 generation, like E-5110 (1.21 μM). It is expected that E-5110 will be superior to classical non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs in medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

In vitro effect of N-methoxy-3-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-pyrrolidone (E-5110), a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on generation of some inflammatory mediators

Cultured rat synovial cells generate PGE2 upon stimulation with a factor derived from rate polymorphonuclear cells (Prostaglandins27, 697, 1984). E-5110 inhibited PGE2 generation by the synovial cells. The IC50 values (μM) for inhibition of PGE2 generation were 0.026 for E-5110, 0.008 for indomethacin, 0.112 for piroxicam, 0.003 for R-830, 0.667 for BW-755C and 2.05 for benoxaprofen. Calcium ionophore A-23187-stimulated LTB4 generation by human neutrophils was inhibited by E-5110 with an IC50 value of 0.20 μM, which was similar to NDGA. The inhibition of LTB4 by E-5110 was more potent than that of R-830, BW-755C or benoxaprofen. E-5110 also inhibited superoxide generation by human neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan, f-Met-Leu-Phe and phorbol myristate acetate. These results indicate that E-5110 is a potent dual inhibitor that suppresses superoxide generation.