Jean Barabé

The actions of kinin antagonists on B1 and B2 receptor systems.

The newly discovered bradykinin antagonist [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]Bradykinin, supplied by J.-M. Stewart and three other compounds, [D-Phe7]BK, [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]Bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]Kallidin synthesized in our laboratory, were tested for their ability to antagonize bradykinin in four B2 receptor systems, the guinea-pig ileum, the rabbit jugular vein, the dog carotid artery and the dog urinary bladder as well as against desArg9-bradykinin in the rabbit aorta (a B1 receptor system). [D-Phe7]Bradykinin is a partial agonist, while [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]Bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]Kallidin are pure antagonists, the second one showing little BK-like activity on three of the four preparations. The kallidin analogue is more potent in all preparations than the bradykinin one. The two [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]BK (that supplied by J.-M. Stewart and that prepared in our laboratory) show very similar affinities in all preparations. The bradykinin analogue as well as the kallidin one are also active against desArg9-bradykinin in the rabbit aorta, at concentrations similar to those active on B2 receptor systems. The kinin antagonists are however specific for the kinins, since they do not interfere with the myotropic effects of angiotensin or substance P (SP) in the various preparations.

Conversion of kinins and their antagonists into B1 receptor activators and blockers in isolated vessels

A carboxypeptidase inhibitor (DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidoethylthiopropranoic acid) (mergetpa) was used to block the conversion of kinins and B2 receptor antagonists into metabolites devoid of the C-terminal Arg. Experiments were carried out on rabbit isolated aortae (a B1 receptor system) or rabbit jugular veins and dog carotid arteries (two B2 receptor systems). The contractile effect of bradykinin in the rabbit aorta was significantly reduced by mergetpa while that of desArg9-BK was not modified. pA2 values of B2 receptor antagonists, [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]kallidin were markedly reduced by mergetpa. The apparent affinity (pA2) of a B1 receptor antagonist, [Leu9]desArg10-kallidin was not affected. Carboxypeptidases inhibition did not modify the activities of bradykinin or the affinities of B2 receptor antagonists in the rabbit jugular vein and the dog carotid artery. An inhibitor of kininase II (D-3-mercapto-2-methylpropranoyl-L-proline (S,S] (captopril) reduced the contractile effects of angiotensin I in the three preparations and potentiated the stimulatory or inhibitory effects of bradykinin: captopril did not have effect on the affinities of B2 receptor antagonists and did not modify the effects of angiotensin II. Comparative experiments performed in tissues with or without endothelium gave the same results with both mergetpa and captopril. The present findings suggest that bradykinin and B2 receptor antagonists are converted by carboxypeptidases into biologically active B1 receptor agonist or antagonists. This is the reason why B2 receptor antagonists are not selective.

Carbamylcholine- and 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction in rat isolated airways: inhibition by calcitonin gene-related peptide.

1 The effects of rat and human α‐calcitonin gene‐related peptide (α‐CGRP) were investigated in isolated smooth muscle preparations obtained from three levels of the rat respiratory tract. 2 Neither peptide (10−10–10−6m) had any effect on resting tension or on carbamylcholine (10−6m)‐induced tone of trachea or main bronchus. In contrast, CGRP sometimes reduced spontaneous or carbamylcholine‐induced tone of lung parenchymal strips. 3 CGRP produced a significant rightward shift of the log concentration‐response curves to carbamylcholine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) in the main bronchus. A rightward shift was also seen in trachea and parenchymal strips but this did not achieve the level of significance. The maximal response to 5‐HT was reduced in the main bronchus and lung parenchyma whereas the maximal contraction to carbamylcholine was decreased in parenchymal strip only. 4 In all three airway preparations, CGRP caused concentration‐dependent inhibition of responses elicited by challenges with 10−7m carbamylcholine or 5 × 10−7m 5‐HT. The inhibitory effect of the peptide was inversely related to the size of the airways: the smaller the calibre, the greater the inhibition. 5 The inhibitory action of CGRP was not modified by pretreatment with tetrodotoxin (10−6m), propranolol (10−6m) or indomethacin (10−6m). 6 The results strongly suggest that (a) CGRP has a nonspecific inhibitory action on airway smooth muscle cells, (b) CGRP may act as a potent inhibitor of responses elicited by bronchoconstrictor substances and (c) its inhibitory activity may be most powerfully expressed in peripheral regions of the respiratory tract.

Development of a radioimmunoassay for [DES-ARG9]-bradykinin.

Antisera to [des-Arg9]-bradykinin were elicited in rabbits immunized with the peptide conjugated to thyroglobulin and/or ovalbumin. Sera were screened for the presence of antibody with three radioactive antigens, mono-125I-labeled derivatives of [Tyr1, des-Arg]-kallidin, [Tyr, des-Arg]-bradykinin, and [Tyr, des-Arg]-bradykinin that were prepared by treating mono-125I-labeled [Tyr]-kallidin, [Tyr]-bradykinin, and [Tyr]-bradykinin with carboxypeptidase B. Of the six animals immunized, five produced antibodies to [des-Arg]-bradykinin as evidenced by the ability of their sera to bind at least 33% of the added radioactivity at a final dilution of 1:500. Sensitivity and specificity studies were performed with each labeled antigen and a dilution of antiserum that bound 30-50% of the radioactivity. The best labeled antigen-antibody combination, with respect to titer, sensitivity, and specificity was obtained with [mono-125I-Tyr, des Arg]-bradykinin and serum from a rabbit immunized with [des-Arg]-bradykinin conjugated to ovalbumin with toluene diisocyanate. The lowest concentration of [des-Arg]-bradykinin inhibiting 50% of this radioactive antigen binding was 0.23 ng/ml and the lowest concentration which could be distinguished from no [des-Arg]-bradykinin added was 67 pg/ml. This antiserum cross-reacts with bradykinin and lysyl-bradykinin about 9% but not with methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin.

The cardiovascular response to epicardial application of neurotensin in guinea pigs

Topical application of picomoles of neurotensin (NT) on the surface of the left ventricle (epicardial application) of anesthetized guinea pigs evoked dose-dependent pressor effects and tachycardia. The pressor response to epicardial NT was attenuated by pentolinium, a mixture of phentolamine and propranolol, or by guanethidine. However it was not affected by indomethacin, atropine or by a mixture of mepyramine and cimetidine. The tachycardia caused by epicardial NT was not modified by any of the aforementioned drugs. Both the pressor effects and tachycardia elicited by epicardial application of NT were markedly inhibited by chronic treatment of guinea pigs with capsaicin, and by topical application of lidocaine or tetrodotoxin to the surface of the left ventricle. Epicardial application of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) or capsaicin also elicited tachycardia and either a decrease (CGRP and SP) or increase of blood pressure (capsaicin) in anesthetized guinea pigs. Epicardial application of NT, CGRP, or capsaicin in isolated, perfused hearts of guinea pigs also caused tachycardia. Together, these results suggest that the pressor responses to topical application of NT on the surface of the left ventricle in anesthetized guinea pigs are partially reflex in nature and likely to result from the stimulation by NT of cardiac sympathetic, capsaicin-sensitive, sensory nerve endings, whereas the tachycardia caused by epicardial NT appears to be due both to direct and indirect effects of NT on ventricular muscle cells. The possible participation of CGRP and/or SP in the chronotropic effect of NT applied on the epicardium, and their putative role as neurotransmitter of cardiac, capsaicin-sensitive, sensory neurons are discussed.

Epicardial application of bradykinin elicits pressor effects and tachycardia in guinea pigs. Possible mechanisms

Topical application of bradykinin (BK) to the surface of the left ventricle (epicardial application) of anesthetized guinea pigs elicited dose-dependent pressor effects and tachycardia. The pressor effect of epicardial BK was reduced by prior systemic treatment of animals with pentolinium or a combination of phentolamine and propranolol, but it was not affected by acute bilateral vagotomy or systemic administration of atropine, indomethacin, naloxone or a combination of mepyramine and cimetidine. The tachycardia caused by epicardial BK was not affected by any of the aforementioned drugs or by section of the vagi. Both the pressor effect and tachycardia evoked by epicardial BK were abolished by prior epicardial application of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, or by chronic systemic capsaicin treatment. These results suggest that the pressor effect of epicardial BK is partially reflex in nature and likely to result from the stimulation by BK of cardiac sympathetic, capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents, whereas the tachycardia caused by epicardial BK could be mediated by an intracardiac release of (a) cardioaccelerating substance(s) from cardiac, capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerve fibers and/or terminals.

Evaluation of the contribution of mast cell mediators to the hypotensive activity of various peptides in rats

We have tested the effects of intravenous injections of substance P (SP), bradykinin (BK), somatostatin (SS) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on the blood pressure, histaminemia and hematocrit in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. The four peptides elicited a decrease of the mean arterial blood pressure which varied both in amplitude and in duration depending both on the peptide and on the doses utilized. The hypotensive effects of SP and VIP were more persistent than those caused by BK or SS. Only SP evoked an increase of histaminemia. Both SP and BK caused an increase of hematocrit. The change of hematocrit was more prominent and of longer duration after Sp than after BK. Pretreatment of rats with the antiinflammatory drug dexamethasone inhibited markedly the changes of blood pressure, histaminemia and hematocrit caused by SP. The hypotensive effects of BK, SS and VIP as well as the transient change of hematocrit evoked by BK were not affected by dexamethasone. The results suggest that part of the hypotensive activity and changes of hematocrit evoked by SP in rats is due to the release and action of histamine and possibly of other vasoactive substances, of mast cell origin. The results also indicate that mast cell mediators, particularly histamine, are unlikely to be instrumental in the hypotensive activity of BK, SS or VIP in rats.

EFFECTS OF SODIUM INTAKE ON URINARY EXCRETION AND RENAL CONTENT OF BRADYKININ AND ITS METABOLITES IN RATS

The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) is present in the kidney and numerous studies have characterized the intrarenal distribution of its components. Kallikreins are principally found in the cortex (1). In isolated nephron of rats and rabbits, kallikreins are found in the granular portion of the cortical distal and collecting tubules (2,3,4). The distribution of the substrate was studied by Proud et al. (5), using immunofluorescent method. It was found that kininogen, probably of low molecular weight, was present all along the proximal and distal tubules of the cortex and the medulla. Since enzymes and substrate for the formation of kinins are present in the nephron, studies have been conducted to identify the site of generation of kinins in the tubules. By stop-flow analysis, Scicli et al. (6) have demonstrated the presence of kinins in the distal nephron with high concentration in the final segment. Finally, the search for the presence of receptors for kinins have been conducted in isolated nephron of the rabbit and they are present in the collecting tubules of the cortex and the medulla (7). Thus, the pattern of distribution of the various components, found mainly in the distal portion of the nephron, an important site controlling the final excretion of water and electrolytes, suggests that kinins participate to the excretory functions of the kidneys.