Yoichiro Isohama

Glycyrrhizin Inhibits Interleukin-8 Production and Nuclear Factor–κB Activity in Lung Epithelial Cells, but Not Through Glucocorticoid Receptors

Abstract This study was designed to examine the glucocorticoid-like inhibitory effect of glycyrrhizin (GL) on interleukin (IL)-8 production in A549 lung epithelial cells. GL, as well as dexamethasone (DEX) inhibited both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α –and IL-1β –induced IL-8 production, mRNA expression, and promoter activity in A549 cells. Both GL and DEX inhibited transactivation of nuclear factor (NF)-κ B, without inhibiting translocation of the NF-κ B p65 subunit to the nucleus. However, the effect of GL was insensitive to RU486, a GR antagonist, and to GR knockdown by siRNA. Furthermore, only GL inhibited DNA binding of p65 to the IL-8 promoter region. These findings indicated that GL had a glucocorticoid-like inhibitory effect on IL-8 production via a mechanism that differs from that of glucocorticoids.

Carbenoxolone, a new inducer of heat shock protein 70.

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is capable of protecting cells, tissues, organs, and animals from a subsequent, normally lethal heating, as well as from numerous disease states. Therefore, it would be of great therapeutic benefit to discover compounds that are clinically safe yet able to induce Hsp70 in patients. Carbenoxolone, an antiulcer drug, protects gastric mucosal cells against irritants in vivo and in vitro. We assessed here whether carbenoxolone induces Hsp70 expression in human cell lines. We found that carbenoxolone increased the expression of Hsp70 protein and mRNA, and Hsp70 promoter activity.

Prostaglandin E2 increases surfactant secretion via the EP1 receptor in rat alveolar type II cells

Prostaglandin E(2), the predominant cyclooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid in alveolar type II cells, can stimulate pulmonary surfactant secretion. The actions of prostaglandin E(2) are mediated by four prostaglandin E (EP) receptor subtypes designated EP(1), EP(2), EP(3) and EP(4). These subtypes couple to different signal transduction pathways. However, it is not clear which of these subtypes is expressed on type II cells and mediates surfactant secretion. We found that the four subtypes of EP receptors are expressed on the primary cultured alveolar type II cells from adult rats. We also concluded that EP(1) receptor appears to mediate prostaglandin E(2)-induced surfactant secretion through Ca(2+) mobilization.

Differential effect of codeine on coughs caused by mechanical stimulation of two different sites in the airway of guinea pigs.

We studied the difference in the effects of codeine on coughs caused by mechanical stimulation to the larynx and to the bifurcation of the trachea in lightly anaesthetized guinea pigs. Mechanical stimulation to the larynx or the bifurcation of trachea caused a stable cough response. The response was reproducible over 60 min, when stimulation was repeatedly applied at 20-min intervals. No significant difference was found between the amplitudes of the responses to mechanical stimulation of the larynx and of the tracheal bifurcation. Codeine, 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg, dose dependently depressed the coughs caused by larynx stimulation. The antitussive, however, failed to depress the cough caused by stimulation to the tracheal bifurcation, although a large dose, 50 mg/kg, significantly depressed the cough. In capsaicin-treated guinea pigs, codeine at 20 mg/kg significantly depressed the cough caused by stimulation to the tracheal bifurcation. The present results suggest that cough caused by mechanical stimulation to the larynx might be more sensitive to codeine treatment than cough caused by stimulation to the bifurcation of trachea. Furthermore, it is suggested that coughs caused by mechanical stimulation to both sites might consist of at least two components as regards their pharmacological nature.

Current opinion of muco-active drug research: strategies and problems

In general, mucoactive drugs are classified into several groups. However, since many drugs have overlapping effects, it is difficult to classify the drugs into groups based on their major actions. It has been reported that many mucoactive drugs have antioxidant effects. It is reasonable to suggest that an anti-inflammatory property is crucial to demonstrate effectiveness in a clinical context. From this point of view, we have evaluated several mucoactive drugs over two decades. Of these, we will consider the following drugs with anti-inflammatory properties: sodium aceneuramate; glucocorticoids; traditional Chinese medicines; and new cysteine derivatives. On the basis of these findings, we believe that the efforts to seek for compatible actions between glucocorticoids and oriental medicines may provide new opportunities for development of ideal mucoactive drugs with specified actions, i.e. suppression of gene expression.

Tumor necrosis factor-α decreases aquaporin-3 expression in DJM-1 keratinocytes

Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a water/glycerol-transporting protein that is strongly expressed at the plasma membranes of keratinocytes in skin. There is evidence for involvement of AQP3-facilitated water and glycerol transport in skin hydration and wound repair, respectively. In this study, we show that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF receptor-1 signaling decreased AQP3 protein expression and plasma membrane water permeability in DJM-1 keratinocytes. TNF-alpha also decreased AQP3 mRNA expression and promoter activity, indicating that TNF-alpha suppresses AQP3 gene transcription. In addition, inhibitors of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) abolished the effect of TNF-alpha on AQP3 expression level, whereas inhibitors for NF-kappaB did not. These data indicate that TNF-alpha decreases AQP3 gene expression through p38 and ERK activation, and suggest that the decrease in AQP3 expression caused by TNF-alpha might be related to the phenotypes of skin inflammation, such as dry skin.

Functional dissection of the ETS transcription factor MEF

We previously indicated that myeloid elf-1-like factor (MEF) but not elf-1, specifically activated lysozyme gene expression in epithelial cells. MEF is highly homologous at the nucleotide and amino acid level, with elf-1 especially in the ETS domain. Here, we report the functional analysis of the nuclear localization and transactivation properties of MEF. To investigate the intracellular localization of MEF, we transiently transfected MEF-green fluorescence protein (GFP) fusion protein expression vector into HeLa cells. A region spanning residues 177-291 is required for nuclear localization. We produced deletion mutants of MEF to determine the transactivation domain. The data showed that the N-terminal region, encompassing amino acids 1-52 is a potent transactivation domain. The C-terminal region spanning residues 477-663 can also mediate transactivation but not as strongly as the N-terminal region. The activity of the amino acid residues 1-52 was confirmed by experiments with fused constructs of MEF to the DNA binding-domain of the yeast GAL4 protein. These results, which determined the localization of the functional domains of MEF, will provide us with new clues to its transactivation mechanisms to regulate lysozyme gene expression in epithelial cells.

Calnexin Δ185–520 partially reverses the misprocessing of the ΔF508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator1

Abnormal retention of ΔF508 CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) in the endoplasmic reticulum is a major cause of cystic fibrosis (CF). We show that calnexin Δ185–520 but not calnexin can partially reverse the mislocalization of ΔF508 CFTR. This 256‐amino acid protein has neither the transmembrane domain nor the P domain of calnexin. Calnexin Δ185–520 interacted with CFTR directly, and was secreted into the extracellular compartment over time. Forty‐eight hours after transfection into CHO cells, calnexin Δ185–520 increased the conversion of immature ΔF508 CFTR into mature ΔF508 CFTR. In immortalized human CF cell lines expressing ΔF508 CFTR, a halide efflux assay showed that calnexin Δ185–520 partially restored CFTR function. These data indicate that calnexin Δ185–520 may give a clue to develop the therapeutic way of cystic fibrosis with ΔF508 CFTR.

Inhibition by ethyl pyruvate of the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB in cultured lung epithelial cells

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is a cytokine inducing inflammatory responses. It has been reported that ethyl pyruvate has anti-inflammatory actions through inhibition of the transcription mediated by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). By reporter gene assay, we first confirmed that TNFalpha activated the NF-kappaB pathway in cultured alveolar epithelial cells, A549 cells. This activation was strongly inhibited by ethyl pyruvate in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of the cells with TNFalpha-induced phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha within 15 min. The level of IkappaBalpha protein was increased from 30 min, suggesting an increase in the NF-kappaB-mediated transcription of IkappaBalpha. Ethyl pyruvate did not affect the changes in IkappaBalpha within 15 min, but strongly inhibited the increase in the IkappaBalpha protein level from 30 min. An immunoblot analysis revealed that ethyl pyruvate inhibited the nuclear translocation of RelA from 5 min of the treatment with TNFalpha. These results strongly suggested that ethyl pyruvate inhibited the NF-kappaB pathway through inhibition of the nuclear translocation of RelA. Ethyl pyruvate may be a good therapeutic drug for inflammation in which activation of the NF-kappaB pathway is involved.

Both β1- and β2-adrenoceptors are involved in mediating phosphatidylcholine secretion in rat type II pneumocyte cultures

Abstract A primary culture of rat type II pneumocytes was used for the pharmacological and functional characterization of β-adrenoceptor subtypes. The β-adrenoceptor agonists, isoprenaline, dobutamine and procaterol concentration dependently increased the secretion of phosphatidylcholine. These effects were attenuated by propranolol. The effect of dobutamine was attenuated by atenolol, and that of procaterol by ICI 118,551. Isoprenaline-induced secretion was attenuated by the combination of the two blockers but not by each one alone. In conclusion, both β 1 - and β 2 -adrenoceptor subtypes mediate phosphatidylcholine secretion in rat type II pneumocytes.