My-Hanh Lam

A potent synthetic LXR agonist is more effective than cholesterol-loading at inducing ABCA1 mRNA and stimulating cholesterol efflux

The LXR nuclear receptors are intracellular sensors of cholesterol excess and are activated by various oxysterols. LXRs have been shown to regulate multiple genes of lipid metabolism, including ABCA1 (formerly known asABC1). ABCA1 is a lipid pump that effluxes cholesterol and phospholipid out of cells. ABCA1 deficiency causes extremely low high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, demonstrating the importance of ABCA1 in the formation of HDL. The present work shows that the acetyl-podocarpic dimer (APD) is a potent, selective agonist for both LXRα (NR1H3) and LXRβ (NR1H2). In transient transactivation assays, APD was ∼1000-fold more potent, and yielded ∼6-fold greater maximal stimulation, than the widely used LXR agonist 22-(R)-hydroxycholesterol. APD induced ABCA1mRNA levels, and increased efflux of both cholesterol and phospholipid, from multiple cell types. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements demonstrated that APD stimulated efflux of endogenous cholesterol, eliminating any possible artifacts of cholesterol labeling. For both mRNA induction and stimulation of cholesterol efflux, APD was found to be more effective than was cholesterol loading. Taken together, these data show that APD is a more effective LXR agonist than endogenous oxysterols. LXR agonists may therefore be useful for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, especially in the context of low HDL levels.

Specific binding sites for platelet activating factor in human lung tissues

Specific and saturable binding of [3H]-labeled 1-0-alkyl-2-0-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF) to membrane preparations of human lung tissues is demonstrated. The equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) was determined by Scatchard analysis to be 4.9 (+/- 1.7) X 10(-10)M and the maximal number of binding sites was estimated to be 140 (+/- 37) fmole/mg protein. The binding site is PAF specific and its selectivity toward PAF analogs is very similar to that in rabbit platelets. Two PAF receptor antagonists, kadsurenone and ginkgolide B, previously characterized in platelet systems, also displace the binding of [3H]-PAF to human lung homogenates. These data indicate that human lung tissues contain PAF specific receptors, and binding of PAF to these receptor sites may be the first step to initiate PAF-induced lung pathophysiology.

Release of platelet activating factor and its involvement in the first phase of carrageenin-induced rat foot edema

Platelet activating factor (PAF), a potent lipid-like vasoactive agent, induced rat foot edema when it was injected subplantarly. The edema reached its maximum 1 h after PAF challenge. Indomethacin did not inhibit the peak edematous response whereas both PAF antagonists, kadsurenone and L-652,731, inhibit the PAF-induced rat foot edema (PFE). Both PAF antagonists also partially block the first phase of the carrageenin-induced rat foot edema (CFE). Using the inhibition of [3H]PAF receptor binding to prepared rabbit platelet membranes, release of PAF or PAF-like materials in carrageenin-injected rat hindpaw was observed. These results suggest that the released PAF or PAF-like materials together with the released histamine and kinin evoke the first phase hindpaw edema in the rats. Indomethacin or PAF antagonist, administered alone, does not block the first phase or the second phase of CFE, respectively. However, PAF antagonist potentiated the inhibitory effects of indomethacin suggesting that the released PAF may also be involved in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins to initiate the second phase of rat CFE.

A Novel Liver X Receptor Agonist Establishes Species Differences in the Regulation of Cholesterol 7α-Hydroxylase (CYP7a)

The liver X receptors, LXRα and LXRβ, are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Originally identified as orphans, both receptor subtypes have since been shown to be activated by naturally occurring oxysterols. LXRα knockout mice fail to regulate cyp7a mRNA levels upon cholesterol feeding, implicating the role of this receptor in cholesterol homeostasis. LXR activation also induces the expression of the lipid pump involved in cholesterol efflux, the gene encoding ATP binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1). Therefore, LXR is believed to be a sensor of cholesterol levels and a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. Here we describe a synthetic molecule named F3MethylAA [3-chloro-4-(3-(7-propyl-3-trifluoromethyl-6-(4,5)-isoxazolyl)propylthio)-phenyl acetic acid] that is more potent than 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol in LXR in vitro assays. F3MethylAA is capable not only of inducing ABCA1 mRNA levels, but also increasing cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophages. In rat hepatocytes, F3MethylAA induce...

(±)-Trans-2-(3-methoxy-5-methylsulfonyl-4-propoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (L-659,989), a novel, potent PAF receptor antagonist

The title compound, L-659,989, is a highly potent, competitive, and selective antagonist of the binding of [3H]PAF to its receptors in platelet membranes from rabbits and humans. It exhibits equilibrium inhibition constants for PAF binding of 1.1 nM (rabbit) to 9.0 nM (human), values that are at least 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than those of other PAF antagonists tested. L-659,989 potently inhibits PAF-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets and degranulation of rat (ED50 4.5 nM) and human (ED50 10 nM) neutrophils. L-659,989 inhibits PAF-induced extravasation and lysosomal enzyme release in rats, and is active orally in female rats (ED50 0.2 mg/kg) with an extraordinary oral duration of action of 12 to 16 hours at 1.0 mg/kg p.o.

Species difference in the specific receptors of platelet activating factor

Relative potencies of platelet activating factor (PAF) and PAF analogs and several PAF receptor antagonists when inhibiting the [3H]PAF specific binding to human and rabbit platelet membranes and membrane fragments of human lung tissues were compared. In rabbit platelets, L-652,731 was found to be most potent in the list of PAF receptor antagonists with an equilibrium inhibition constant (Ki) of 9.83 (+/- 2.92) X 10(-9) M followed by L-653,150 greater than kadsurenone congruent to Ono-6240 greater than ginkgolide B greater than CV-3988 greater than L-651,142, whereas in human platelets the relative potencies of these PAF receptor antagonists were as follows: Ono-6240 greater than L-653,150 congruent to L-652,731 congruent to kadsurenone greater than ginkgolide B greater than CV-3988 greater than L-651,142. Ono-6240 was the most potent one with a Ki of 4.86 (+/- 1.44) X 10(-8) M which was roughly two times more potent than that in rabbit platelets, whereas the affinity of L-652,731 was about ten times less in human platelets (Ki = 1.03 (+/- 0.15) X 10(-7) M) compared to that in rabbit platelets (Ki = 9.83 (+/- 2.92) X 10(-9) M). These variations between species among PAF antagonists strongly suggest that there exists a species difference at or near the binding site of the receptor of platelet activating factor. The relative potency of these PAF receptor antagonists in human lung membranes differed very little from that in human platelets and was found to be Ono-6240 greater than L-653,150 congruent to kadsurenone congruent to L-652,731 greater than ginkgolide B greater than CV-3988 greater than L-651,142. Even though C16-PAF showed slightly higher potency in human lung, and CV-3988 and Ono-6240 showed slightly lower, the difference was too small to suggest that there is a difference in the PAF receptors between human platelets and human lung tissues.

Fluorogenic substrates for high-throughput measurements of endothelial lipase activity

Endothelial lipase (EL) has been shown to be a critical determinant for high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in vivo; therefore, assays that measure EL activity have become important for the discovery of small molecule inhibitors that specifically target EL. Here, we describe fluorescent Bodipy-labeled substrates that can be used in homogeneous, ultra-high-throughput kinetic assays that measure EL phospholipase or triglyceride lipase activities. Triton X-100 detergent micelles and synthetic HDL particles containing Bodipy-labeled phospholipid or Bodipy-labeled triglyceride substrates were shown to be catalytic substrates for EL, LPL, and HL. More importantly, only synthetic HDL particles containing Bodipy-labeled triglyceride were ideal substrates for EL, LPL, and HL in the presence of high concentrations of human or mouse serum. These data suggest that substrate presentation is a critical factor when determining EL activity in the presence of serum.

Synthesis and biological activity of MK 287 (L-680,573): a potent, specific and orally active paf receptor antagonist

Abstract An enantioselective synthesis of MK 287 (L-680,573), a member of a family of trans-,5-diaryltetrahydrofurans, and its biological activity are described.

Synthesis and biological activity of the platelet-activating factor antagonist (±)-trans-2-(3-methoxy-4-phenylsulfonylethoxy-5-n-propylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (L-671,284) and its analogs

Abstract (±)-trans-2-(3-Methoxy-4-phenylsulfonylethoxy-5-n-propylsulfonylphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (L-671,284) is a highly potent, selective, competitive PAF-receptor antagonist with a Ki of 1.0 nM for inhibition of binding of [3H]C18-PAF to human platelets and exhibits little or no gender differences in bioactivities in rats. Several 4′ positional analogs of L-671,284 have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro.