Patrick Y-K Wong

Hepatic metabolism of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the rabbit: formation of a potent novel inhibitor of platelet aggregation.

Abstract Metabolism of [9-3H]-PGI2 was studied in the isolated Tyrodes perfused rabbit liver. Five products, four radioactive and one non-radioactive, were identified in the perfusate: 19-hydroxy-6-keto-PGF1α, 6-keto-PGF1α, dinor-6-keto-PGF1α, pentanor PGF1α and a 6-keto-PGE1-like substance. The first two, 19-hydroxy-6-keto-PGF1α and 6-keto-PGF1α, represented 5% and 45% respectively, of the total radioactivity; the last two accounted for 39%. The presence of dinor and pentanor derivatives of 6-keto-PGF1α indicated that β -oxidation and oxidative-decarboxylation occurs in the liver as the major metabolic pathway of PGI2. One non-radioactive metabolite which co-migrated with authentic 6-keto-PGE1 was found to inhibit platelet aggregation, having a potency similar to authentic 6-keto-PGE1, and its effect can be eliminated by boiling and by alkali treatment. This metabolite, having similar Rf value on TLC and biological behavior as 6-keto-PGE1, may arise from oxidation of 6-keto-PGF1α via the 9-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase pathway, as suggested by recovery of tritiated water in the aqueous phase of the perfusate. This material, a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, may arise from PGI2 or its hydrolysis product, 6-keto-PGF1α.

Peroxynitrite induces apoptosis of HL-60 cells by activation of a caspase-3 family protease

Apoptosis is an active process critical for the homeostasis of organisms. Enzymes of the caspase family are responsible for executing this process. We have previously shown that peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a biological product generated from the interaction of nitric oxide and superoxide, induces apoptosis of HL-60 cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the execution process of peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis. Proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, an indication of caspase-3 family protease activation and an early biochemical event accompanying apoptosis, was observed in a time-dependent manner during peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Activation of caspase-3 during peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis was substantiated by monitoring proteolysis of the caspase-3 proenzyme and by measuring caspase-3 activity with a fluorogenic substrate. Furthermore, pretreatment of HL-60 cells with N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3, but not N-acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-aldehyde, a specific inhibitor of caspase-1, decreased peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that the activation of a caspase-3 family protease is essential for initiating the execution process of peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

Mechanism and signal transduction of 14 (R), 15 (S)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) binding in guinea pig monocytes ☆

14(R), 15(S)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) is a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (epoxygenase) metabolite of arachidonic acid (AA). In this study, we have identified a population of specific high affinity binding sites for 14,15-EET in the guinea pig mononuclear (GPM) cells. The results of competition studies showed that 14(R), 15(S)-EET was an effective competing ligand with a Ki of 226.3 nM followed by 11(R), 12(S)-EET, 14(S), 15(R)-EET, 14,15 thia(S)-ET, and 14,15-aza(N)-ET. The binding was sensitive to various protease treatments suggesting that the binding site is protein in nature. Cholera toxin (CT) and dibutyryl cAMP attenuated 14,15-EET binding in GPM cells. Mean binding site density (Bmax), decreased 32.0% and 19.1% by the pretreatment with cholera toxin (200 micrograms/ml) and dibutyryl cAMP (100 nM), respectively, without changing the dissociation constant. A specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89, but not the PKC inhibitor K252a reversed the down regulation of 14,15-EET receptor binding caused by dibutyryl cAMP in GPM cells. Thus, the results sug-gest that the specific binding site of 14,15-EET in GPM cells be associated with a receptor that could be down regulated through an increase in intracellular cAMP and activation of a PKA signal trans-duction. We propose that the signal transduction mechanism begins with the binding of 14,15-EET to its receptor that leads to increase intracellular cAMP levels and the activation of PKA, and finally, with the down regulation of 14,15-EET receptor binding.

NO modulates P-selectin and ICAM-1 mRNA expression and hemodynamic alterations in hepatic I/R

The anti-inflammatory role of nitric oxide (NO) was studied in a model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Male Fischer rats were subjected to 30 min of no-flow ischemia of the left and median lobes of the liver, and animals were examined for a 4-h period of reperfusion. The animals were divided into the following groups: control-vehicle; I/R-vehicle; I/R-Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg iv, 10 min before reperfusion); sham control-L-NAME, and I/R-S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP, 25 micromol/kg iv, 10 min before reperfusion, followed by 20 micromol. kg-1. h-1 in 1.0 ml saline infused for 4 h). Results showed that mean arterial blood pressure was significantly increased in the sham control-L-NAME or I/R-L-NAME groups compared with either the I/R-vehicle or I/R-SNAP groups. However, cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume index (SVI) were markedly decreased, and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was dramatically increased. Interestingly, the CI and SVI in rats treated with SNAP were markedly improved over that of the I/R group. Plasma nitrate and nitrite levels were significantly decreased in the I/R-L-NAME group; however, superoxide generation in the ischemic lobes and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity were higher compared with I/R-SNAP rats. The L-NAME-induced enhancement of hepatic injury in rats with I/R may be due in part to neutrophil infiltration, which was significantly increased compared with animals subjected to I/R or I/R-SNAP. The mechanism of L-NAME-enhanced neutrophil infiltration may be due to the fact that the ratios of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA extracted from the ischemic lobes of I/R-L-NAME rats were significantly increased when compared with the I/R-SNAP group. These results suggest that 1) endogenous NO reduces the SVRI and permits an increased CI and SVI; 2) exogenous NO further improves CI and SVI; and 3) endogenous, but not exogenous, NO decreases P-selectin and ICAM-1 mRNA expression, thereby reducing polymorphonuclear neutrophil-dependent reperfusion tissue injury.The anti-inflammatory role of nitric oxide (NO) was studied in a model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Male Fischer rats were subjected to 30 min of no-flow ischemia of the left and median lobes of the liver, and animals were examined for a 4-h period of reperfusion. The animals were divided into the following groups: control-vehicle; I/R-vehicle; I/R- N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 10 mg/kg iv, 10 min before reperfusion); sham control-l-NAME, and I/R- S-nitroso- N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP, 25 μmol/kg iv, 10 min before reperfusion, followed by 20 μmol ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ h-1in 1.0 ml saline infused for 4 h). Results showed that mean arterial blood pressure was significantly increased in the sham control-l-NAME or I/R-l-NAME groups compared with either the I/R-vehicle or I/R-SNAP groups. However, cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume index (SVI) were markedly decreased, and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was dramatically increased. Interestingly, the CI and SVI in rats treated with SNAP were markedly improved over that of the I/R group. Plasma nitrate and nitrite levels were significantly decreased in the I/R-l-NAME group; however, superoxide generation in the ischemic lobes and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity were higher compared with I/R-SNAP rats. Thel-NAME-induced enhancement of hepatic injury in rats with I/R may be due in part to neutrophil infiltration, which was significantly increased compared with animals subjected to I/R or I/R-SNAP. The mechanism ofl-NAME-enhanced neutrophil infiltration may be due to the fact that the ratios of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA extracted from the ischemic lobes of I/R-l-NAME rats were significantly increased when compared with the I/R-SNAP group. These results suggest that 1) endogenous NO reduces the SVRI and permits an increased CI and SVI; 2) exogenous NO further improves CI and SVI; and 3) endogenous, but not exogenous, NO decreases P-selectin and ICAM-1 mRNA expression, thereby reducing polymorphonuclear neutrophil-dependent reperfusion tissue injury.

Post-receptor signal transduction and regulation of 14(R),15(S)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) binding in U-937 cells

14(R),15(S)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET), a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (epoxygenase) metabolite of arachidonic acid has been reported to induce adhesion of a monocyte cell line (U-937) to cultured endothelial cells. In this study, we identified a population of specific, high affinity binding sites for 14(R),15(S)-EET in U-937 cell surface with Kd of 13.84 +/- 2.58 nM and Bmax of 3.54 +/- 0.28 pmol/10(6) cells. The specific binding of [3H]-14,15-EET on U-937 cells is more effectively displaced by 14(R),15(S)-EET than the 14(S),15(R)-isomer thus indicating stereospecificity. The binding was sensitive to various protease treatments suggesting the binding site is protein in nature. 14,15-EET binding in U937 cells is attenuated by cholera toxin (CT) and dibutyryl cAMP. Mean binding site density (Bmax) decreased 31.61% and 34.8% by the pretreatment with cholera toxin (200 micrograms/ml) and dibutyryl cAMP (300 nM), respectively, without affecting the dissociation constant. Under similar conditions, pertussis toxin (20-200 ng/ml) was less effective as compared to CT and dibutyryl cAMP. The down regulation of 14,15-EET binding caused by dibutyryl cAMP in U-937 cell was reversed by a specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89, but not by the PKC inhibitor K252a. Thus, the results suggest that the specific binding site of 14,15-EET in U-937 cells is associated with a receptor that could be down regulated through an increase in intracellular cAMP and activation of a PKA signal transduction mechanism. We propose that the signal transduction mechanism of 14,15-EET begins with the binding of the receptor, which leads to the increase of intracellular cAMP levels and the activation of PKA, and finally with the down regulation of 14,15-EET receptor binding.

Role of endogenous nitric oxide in TNF-α and IL-1β generation in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion

In the present study, we examined the role of nitric oxide (NO) in early-response cytokine production by using a rat model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (HI/R). The left and median lobes of the liver were subjected to 30 min of ischemia, followed by 4 h of reperfusion. Group I and II rats were sham-operated controls that received saline (vehicle) or N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) (10 mg/kg, iv); group III and IV rats were subjected to HI/R and received vehicle or L-NAME (10 mg/kg, iv, 10 min before reperfusion), respectively. Administration of L-NAME to rats subjected to I/R resulted in a fourfold decrease in plasma NO levels, accompanied by a marked increase of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity relative to group III. These changes in group IV were associated with elevation of superoxide generation in ischemic liver lobes by 2.1-fold and circulating leukocyte number by 1.42-fold, compared with group III. Normalized for expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) mRNA in ischemic liver of group IV was augmented by 207% and 175% compared with Group III. The expression of (iNOS) mRNA was also increased (223%) relative to group III. Moreover, in group IV, plasma TNF-alpha levels at 4 h of reperfusion and IL-1beta levels at 90 min and 4 h of reperfusion were significantly increased compared with group III. No statistically significant changes were observed between groups I and II in plasma ALT activity, plasma NO levels, circulating leukocyte counts, superoxide generation in the ischemic lobes of liver, and plasma TNF-a and IL-1beta concentrations. The observed enhancement of I/R injury by L-NAME is consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous NO down-regulates TNF-alpha and IL1beta generation, thereby decreasing HI/R injury.

6-keto-prostaglandin E1 inhibits the aggregation of human platelets

6-Keto-prostaglandin E1 (6-keto-PGE1) was found to have a similar potency to prostacyclin (PGI2) as an inhibitor of platelet aggregation. It caused a time and concentration dependent inhibition of ADP, collagen and epinephrine induced platelet aggregation, the dose ratios for 70% inhibition by 6-keto-PGE1, PGI2 and PGE1 being approximately 1 : 1 : 13. In doses similar to those of PGI2, 6-keto-PGE1 partially inhibited the release of [3H]-serotonin from platelet-rich plasma induced by collagen.

Lipoxene: A new group of trihydroxy pentaenes of eicosapentaenoic acid derived from porcine leukocytes

Incubation of porcine leukocytes with [1-14C]-15-hydroperoxyeicosapentaenoic acid (15-HPEPE) results in the formation of a group of polar metabolites which after separation and purification by RP-HPLC and SP-HPLC were found to be a series of new compounds containing three hydroxy groups and four conjugated double bonds. The structures of these new metabolites were established by U. V. spectrophotometry and GC/MS to be trihydroxy pentaenes of EPA, i.e., 5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13,17-eicosapentaenoic acid and 5,14,15-trihydroxy-6,8,10,12,17-eicosapentaenoic acid. Because of the additional double bond at C17-18, these two new metabolites of EPA were proposed to be lipoxene A and lipoxene B, respectively.

Nomenclature of lipoxins and related compounds derived from arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid

Oxygenated derivates of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid which contain conjugated tetraene structures and are non-cyclized C20 carboxylic acids were first isolated and characterized from human and porcine leukocytes (Serhan, C.N. et al, 1984, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 118, 943-949; Wong, P.Y.-K., et al, 1985, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 126, 765-775). The trivial names lipoxins and lipoxenes have been introduced for compounds belonging to each of these series. Here, we propose that tetraene-containing compounds derived from arachidonic acid be denoted as lipoxins (LX) of the four series (i.e. lipoxin A4 or LXA4 and lipoxin B4 or LXB4) and those derived from eicosapentaenoic be termed lipoxins of the five series (i.e. lipoxin A5 or LXA5 and lipoxin B5 or LXB5).

ANTITHROMBOTIC EFFECTS OF PEROXYNITRITE : INHIBITION AND REVERSAL OF AGGREGATION IN HUMAN PLATELETS

The inhibition of platelet aggregation by peroxynitrite, a reactive oxygen species derived from the interaction of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide, was examined in platelet-rich plasma. In this report, we have used a preparation of peroxynitrite that was free of H2O2 and MnO2. As such, peroxynitrite dose-dependently (50-200 microM) inhibited aggregation of human platelets stimulated by ADP (5 microM), collagen (0.5 microgram), thrombin (0.5U/microL) and U46619 (1 microM). In addition, peroxynitrite reversed platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, and thrombin. Peroxynitrite, preincubated with platelet-poor plasma or albumin (7%) for 30 min, did not alter the inhibition of platelet aggregation. This suggested that the inhibitory action of peroxynitrite may be due to nitrosylation of proteins, which by themselves possess activity, rather than conversion to NO or NO donors. Furthermore, we show that peroxynitrite increased the cGMP level only at 200 microM concentrations, further suggesting that the action of peroxynitrite was not completely due to its conversion to NO or NO donors.