Satomi Kagota

Antioxidant activity of the extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis

Cordyceps sinensis is one of the most valued herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. We investigated the antioxidant activities of the cultured fruiting bodies of Cordyceps sinesis. The water and ethanol extracts of Cordyceps sinensis were found to possess a potent antioxidant activity. The scavenging effects of the extracts on superoxide were very weak, but the extracts moderately inhibited malondialdehyde formation via hydroxyl radical induced by SIN‐1, a peroxynitrite generator. Of the extracts examined, the hot water extract (70 °C for 5 min) showed the greatest oxygen free radical scavenging activity. Also, when low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) was incubated with macrophages in the presence of CuCl2 (1 µM), the hot water extract showed a strong inhibitory effect against lipid peroxidation in the medium and consequent accumulation of cholesteryl ester in macrophages. Their activities were comparable to that of authentic Cu/Zn SOD. These results suggest that the extracts of cultured Cordyceps sinensis possess potent antioxidant and anti‐lipid peroxidation activities and inhibit accumulation of cholesteryl ester in macrophages via suppression of LDL oxidation. Copyright

Oxidants in cigarette smoke extract modify low-density lipoprotein in the plasma and facilitate atherogenesis in the aorta of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Epidemiological studies have shown that cigarette smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis. Oxidants as well as nicotine in cigarette smoke have been implicated in atherogenesis. To clarify the mechanism involved, we examined the chronic effects of nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) on oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the plasma of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits and atherogenesis in the aorta. CSE was prepared by bubbling the gas phase of smoke (1 ml/three cigarettes) into phosphate buffer saline, and 3 ml of this CSE was injected daily into the ear vein of the rabbit for five months. The rabbits treated with CSE showed an increase in lipid peroxide levels, estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), with a corresponding decrease in vitamin E levels in the plasma. They also showed enhanced oxidative modification of LDL, assessed by anion-exchange HPLC, incorporation into macrophages and measurement of TBARS. These events could be efficiently prevented by administering vitamin E (150 mg/kg/day, p.o.). Nicotine alone (0.5 mg/kg/day, s.c.) led to a temporary increase in the plasma triglyceride level. At the end of the experiment, CSE but not nicotine had caused progression of atherosclerotic lesions together with accumulation of cholesteryl ester in the thoracic aorta, while vitamin E had significantly prevented such atheromatous formation. These results indicate that oxidants in CSE can promote the development of atherosclerosis through oxidative modification of plasma LDL, particularly in hypercholesterolemia, and offer evidence for increased vitamin E utilization in smokers.

Downregulation of vascular soluble guanylate cyclase induced by high salt intake in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP)‐mediated mechanism plays an important role in vasodilatation and blood pressure regulation. We investigated the effects of high salt intake on the nitric oxide (NO) – cyclic GMP signal transduction pathway regulating relaxation in aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Four‐week‐old SHR and normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto rats (WKY) received a normal salt diet (0.3% NaCl) or a high salt diet (8% NaCl) for 4 weeks. In aortic rings from SHR, endothelium‐dependent relaxations in response to acetylcholine (ACh), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and calcium ionophore A23187 were significantly impaired by the high salt intake. The endothelium‐independent relaxations in response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nitroglycerin were also impaired, but that to 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP remained unchanged. On the other hand, high salt diet had no significant effects on the relaxations of aortic rings from WKY. In aortas from SHR, the release of NO stimulated by ACh was significantly enhanced, whereas the production of cyclic GMP induced by either ACh or SNP was decreased by the high salt intake. Western blot analysis showed that the protein level of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) was slightly increased, whereas that of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) was dramatically reduced by the high salt intake. These results indicate that in SHR, excessive dietary salt can result in downregulation of sGC followed by decreased cyclic GMP production, which leads to impairment of vascular relaxation in responses to NO. It is notable that chronic high salt intake impairs the sGC/cyclic GMP pathway but not the eNOS/NO pathway.

Antitumour activity of cordycepin in mice.

1. The antitumour effect of orally administered cordycepin, a component isolated from water extracts of Cordyceps sinensis, was examined in mice inoculated with B16 melanoma (B16‐BL6) cells.

Altered endothelium-dependent responsiveness in the aortas and renal arteries of Otsuka Long–Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

We examined endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aortas and renal arteries of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, in comparison with non-diabetic Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats as controls. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation in both arteries was attenuated, and the attenuation was restored to the control level by indomethacin. The relaxation was inhibited completely in the aortas, but only partially in renal arteries by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and the degree of the latter inhibition was greater in OLETF rats than in the controls. The relaxation was inhibited by aminoguanidine in both arteries of OLETF rats but not in the controls. Serum NO(2) plus NO(3) levels significantly increased in OLETF rats. These results suggest that impairment of relaxation in OLETF rat arteries is due to increased release of contractile factors but not decreased release of nitric oxide.

Inhibitory effects of water extracts from fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis on raised serum lipid peroxide levels and aortic cholesterol deposition in atherosclerotic mice

We investigated the effects of the water extracts of the fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps sinensis (WECS) on lipid metabolism in mice fed an atherogenic diet. WECS was orally administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. WECS showed no toxic effects on the growth rate, liver or kidney weights of the mice. Mice fed the atherogenic diet showed marked increases in serum lipid and lipid peroxide levels and also aortic cholesterol levels, particularly cholesteryl ester level, a major lipid constituent in atherosclerotic lesions. WECS significantly suppressed the increased serum lipid peroxide level but not other lipid levels in a dose‐dependent manner. WECS also suppressed the increased aortic cholesteryl ester level in a dose‐dependent manner. These results suggest that WECS prevents cholesterol deposition in the aorta by inhibition of LDL oxidation mediated by free radicals rather than by reduction in serum lipid level. WECS may exert beneficial effects on the formation of the atherosclerotic lesion induced by oxidative stress with few side effects. Copyright

Increase in P-glycoprotein accompanied by activation of protein kinase Cα and NF-κB p65 in the livers of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

It is known that protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction is enhanced in a diabetic state, and that PKC activator phorbol esters increase the gene expression of MDR1 in human tumor cells. To clarify the expression of the liver transporters under diabetic conditions and the roles of PKCalpha and the transcription factor NF-kappaB, we investigated the expression levels of Mdr1a, Mdr1b, Mdr2, Mrp2, Bcrp, Bsep, Oct1, Oat2, and Oat3 transporters, PKCalpha, IkappaB, and NF-kappaB in the liver of rats with STZ-induced hyperglycemia. A selective increase in the gene expression of Mdr1b was detected by RT-PCR. Western blotting with C219 antibody revealed an increase in P-glycoprotein. Although the mRNA level of PKCalpha was not affected, translocation of PKCalpha to the microsomal fraction was detected. NF-kappaB p65, IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta mRNA levels were increased as was the level of nuclear NF-kappaB p65. From these findings, it was suggested that STZ-induced hyperglycemia caused the upregulation of Mdr1b P-gp expression through the activation of PKCalpha and NF-kappaB.

Cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) inhibits the growth of B16-BL6 mouse melanoma cells through the stimulation of adenosine A3 receptor followed by glycogen synthase kinase-3β activation and cyclin D1 suppression

Cordyceps sinensis, a parasitic fungus on the larvae of Lepidoptera, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine. We previously reported that the growth of B16-BL6 mouse melanoma (B16-BL6) cells was inhibited by cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine), an active ingredient of C. sinensis, and its effect was antagonized by MRS1191, a selective adenosine A3 receptor antagonist. In this study, the radioligand binding assay using [125I]-AB-MECA (a selective adenosine A3 receptor agonist) has shown that B16-BL6 cells express adenosine A3 receptors and that cordycepin binds to these receptors. We also confirmed the involvement of adenosine A3 receptors in the action of cordycepin using MRS1523 and MRS1220, specific adenosine A3 receptor antagonists. Next, indirubin, a glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) inhibitor, antagonized the growth suppression induced by cordycepin. Furthermore, the level of cyclin D1 protein in B16-BL6 cells was decreased by cordycepin using Western blot analysis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that cordycepin inhibits the proliferation of B16-BL6 cells by stimulating adenosine A3 receptors followed by the Wnt signaling pathway, including GSK-3β activation and cyclin D1 inhibition.

Combined effects of Cordyceps sinensis and methotrexate on hematogenic lung metastasis in mice.

We investigated antitumor effects of water extracts of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS). WECS (100 microg/ml) induced apoptosis of B16 melanoma cells after 48 h exposure in vitro as determined by both the TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) method and the detection of a DNA ladder. In vivo, combined treatment with WECS and methotrexate (MTX) in mice intravenously inoculated with B16 melanoma cells was conducted. Although MTX caused a significant and severe decrease in body weight compared with that in control mice starting 16 days after the start of administration, the mice given both MTX and WECS did not show a significant decrease in body weight. The mean survival time (days) of the control mice, MTX-treated mice (15 mg/kg/day, s.c.), and WECS-treated mice (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was 25.0 +/- 0.3, 25.6 +/- 1.3, and 25.7 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- S.E.M. of 6-7 mice), respectively. On the other hand, mean survival time (days) of mice given the combination of MTX and WECS was 28.2 +/- 0.7, significantly longer than the control value. WECS might be beneficial in the prevention of tumor metastasis as an adjuvant agent in cancer chemotherapy.

Characterization of mouse melanoma cell lines by their mortal malignancy using an experimental metastatic model

We characterized the metastatic ability and mortality of four different mouse melanoma cell lines, B16-F0, -F1, -F10 and -BL6. B16-F0 is the parent cell line. B16-F1 was obtained by a one-time selective procedure and B16-F10 by a ten-time selective procedure using Fidlers method. B16-BL6 derived from B16-F10 has much more invasive activity than B16-F10. To investigate the difference in mortal malignancy among B16-F0, -F1, -F10 and -BL6, we examined the survival time of syngeneic C57BL/6Cr mice intravenously inoculated with these cells. As a control, we used the C57BL/6J-embryo mouse fibroblast-like semi-normal cell line. The ability to form lung metastatic nodules in mice gradually increased in the order: B16-F0, -F1, and -F10 (=-BL6). C57BL/6J-embryo cell (1 x 10(5)/mouse)-inoculated mice survived for over 46 days. B16-F0, -F1, -F10 and -BL6 (1 x 10(5)/mouse)-inoculated mice survived 31.4+/-4.4 (7), 25.7+/-2.8 (7), 23.6+/-1.5 (7) and 25.3+/-2.3 (7) days [mean+/-S.D. (number of mice)], respectively. According to the Mann-Whitney test, the B16-F0 inoculated group versus -F1 inoculated group (P<0.05), -F0 inoculated group versus -BL6 inoculated group (P<0.05), and -F0 inoculated group versus -F10 inoculated group (P<0.01) were significantly different, but the B16-F1 group versus -F10 group, -F1 group versus -BL6 group, and -F10 group versus -BL6 group were not. These results suggest that mortal malignancy is not necessarily correlated with lung-colonizing potential and even only one-time selected B16-F0 mouse melanoma cells are useful as an experimental metastatic model in vivo.