Effects of cilostazol, a selective cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the contraction of vascular smooth muscle

The effects of cilostazol (OPC-13013, 6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quin olinone) on cyclic nucleotide metabolism and Ca2+-induced contraction of intact and skinned rabbit arterial smooth muscles were investigated. The concentrations of cilostazol producing 50% inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase and Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase were 0.4 microM and above 100 microM, respectively. This compound has no significant effect on adenylate cyclase in concentrations of up to 100 microM. Addition of cilostazol increased significantly the cAMP content without significant effect on cyclic guanosine monophosphate level of rabbit thoracic aorta in the presence of forskolin. Moreover, the ED50 value of cilostazol in relaxation of rabbit mesenteric arterial strips was decreased selectively by addition of 0.01 microM forskolin, which alone at this concentration has no effect on vascular contraction. Cilostazol of up to 30 microM did not suppress the Ca2+-induced contraction of the chemically skinned rabbit mesenteric artery. Therefore, cilostazol may produce the relaxation of intact vascular smooth muscle by its inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate hydrolysis.     

KMUP-1 activates BKCa channels in basilar artery myocytes via cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases

This study investigated whether KMUP-1, a synthetic xanthine-based derivative, augments the delayed-rectifier potassium (K(DR))- or large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (BKCa) channel activity in rat basilar arteries through protein kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Cerebral smooth muscle cells were enzymatically dissociated from rat basilar arteries. Conventional whole cell, perforated and inside-out patch-clamp electrophysiology was used to monitor K+- and Ca2+ channel activities. KMUP-1 (1 microM) had no effect on the K(DR) current but dramatically enhanced BKCa channel activity. This increased BKCa current activity was abolished by charybdotoxin (100 nM) and iberiotoxin (100 nM). Like KMUP-1, the membrane-permeable analogs of cGMP (8-Br-cGMP) and cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) enhanced the BKCa current. BKCa current activation by KMUP-1 was markedly inhibited by a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor (ODQ 10 microM), an adenylate cyclase inhibitor (SQ 22536 10 microM), competitive antagonists of cGMP and cAMP (Rp-cGMP, 100 microM and Rp-cAMP, 100 microM), and cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitors (KT5823, 300 nM and KT5720, 300 nM). Voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ current was significantly suppressed by KMUP-1 (1 microM), and nearly abolished by a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine, 1 microM). In conclusion, KMUP-1 stimulates BKCa currents by enhancing the activity of cGMP-dependent protein kinase, and in part this is due to increasing cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Physiologically, this activation would result in the closure of voltage-dependent calcium channels and the relaxation of cerebral arteries.     

Tolerance to morphine at the mu-opioid receptor differentially induced by cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation and morphine

Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells express endogenous mu-opioid receptor and develop cellular tolerance to morphine after prolonged (>/=4 h) treatment with morphine. Treatment with forskolin (25 microM, 12 h), an adenylyl cyclase activator, also desensitized mu-opioid receptor response to morphine (10 microM) by 38% (P<0. 001), which was reversed by the cyclic AMP (cAMP) dependent kinase inhibitor N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H8) (100 microM). Treatment with both morphine and forskolin appeared to cause an additive effect in desensitizing mu-opioid receptor. In mu-opioid receptor stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-mu) cells, morphine treatment produced cAMP upregulation, yet failed to induce mu-opioid receptor tolerance. However, treatment with forskolin (25 microM) or 8-bromo-cAMP (1mM) led to profound mu-opioid receptor tolerance, which was reversed by H8. These results demonstrate that cAMP-dependent kinase activation causes mu-opioid receptor tolerance. However, morphine-induced mu-opioid receptor tolerance in SH-SY5Y cells is not mediated by cAMP-dependent kinase activation. In addition, our results indicate that cAMP-upregulation does not necessarily lead to mu-opioid receptor tolerance.     

西洛他唑对磷脂多糖诱导的粘附及粘附分子释放的影响

目的　研究磷酸二酯酶 3型抑制剂西洛他唑对磷脂多糖 (LPS)诱导的粘附及血管内皮细胞 (ECs)释放可溶性细胞粘附分子 (sCAMs)的影响。方法　体外培养第 4～ 6代人脐静脉血管内皮细胞 (HUVECs) ,以LPS(5mg·L- 1)刺激 ,并与西洛他唑 (1～ 10 μmol·L- 1)共培养 2 4h ,观察西洛他唑对由LPS诱导的HUVECs与中性粒细胞之间的粘附的影响 ;另取培养上清 ,以ELISA法测定HUVECs释放可溶性血管细胞粘附分子 1(sVCAM 1)、细胞间粘附分子 1(sICAM 1)以及E 选择素 (sE selectin ,sELAM 1)。结果　西洛他唑抑制由LPS诱导的HUVECs与中性粒细胞之间的粘附以及HUVECs释放sVCAM 1,而对sICAM 1和sE 选择素无影响。并且 ,该药对于sVCAM 1的抑制作用被蛋白激酶A(PKA)抑制剂H 89所阻断。结论　西洛他唑对由细胞因子LPS诱导的粘附反应以及ECs释放sVCAM 1有抑制作用 ,后者可能与PKA依赖性通路相关     

Presynaptic H3 autoreceptors modulate histamine synthesis through cAMP pathway.

Histamine H3 receptors modulate histamine synthesis, although little is known about the transduction mechanisms involved. To investigate this issue, we have used a preparation of rat brain cortical miniprisms in which histamine synthesis can be modulated by depolarization and by H3 receptor ligands. When the miniprisms were incubated in presence of forskolin, dibutyryl-cAMP, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), histamine synthesis was stimulated in 34, 29, and 47%, respectively. These stimulations could be prevented by the selective cAMP protein kinase blocker Rp-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate triethylamine (Rp-cAMPs). Preincubation with the H3 receptor agonist imetit prevented IBMX- (100% blockade) and forskolin- (70% blockade) induced stimulation of histamine synthesis. The H3 inverse agonist thioperamide enhanced histamine synthesis in the presence of 1 mM IBMX or 30 mM potassium (+47 and +45%, respectively). Similarly, the H3 antagonist clobenpropit enhanced histamine synthesis in the presence of 30 mM potassium (+ 59%). The cAMP-dependent protein kinase blockers Rp-cAMPs and PKI14-22 could impair the effects of thioperamide and clobenpropit, respectively. These results indicate that the adenylate cyclase-protein kinase A pathway is involved in the modulation of histamine synthesis by H3 autoreceptors present in histaminergic nerve terminals.     

Characterization of human cytochrome p450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of cilostazol.

Cilostazol (OPC-13013; 6-[4-(1-cyclohexl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone) is widely used as an antiplatelet vasodilator agent. In vitro, the hydroxylation of the quinone moiety of cilostazol to OPC-13326 [6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone], is the predominant route, and the hydroxylation of the hexane moiety to OPC-13217 is the second most predominant route. This study was carried out to identify and kinetically characterize the human cytochrome P450 (P450) isozymes responsible for the formation of the two major metabolites of cilostazol, namely, OPC-13326 and OPC-13217 [3,4-dihydro-6-[4-[1-(cis-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone)]. In in vitro studies using 14 recombinant human P450 isozymes, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP2J2, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP4A11, cilostazol was metabolized to OPC-13326 mainly by CYP3A4 (K(m) = 5.26 muM, intrinsic clearance (CL(int)) = 0.34 microl/pmol P450/min), CYP1B1 (K(m) = 11.2 microM, CL(int) = 0.03 microl/pmol P450/min), and CYP3A5 (K(m) = 2.89 microM, CL(int) = 0.05 microl/pmol P450/min) and to OPC-13217 mainly by CYP3A5 (K(m) = 1.60 microM, CL(int) = 0.57 microl/pmol P450/min), CYP2C19 (K(m) = 5.95 microM, CL(int) = 0.16 microl/pmol P450/min), CYP3A4 (K(m) = 5.35 microM, CL(int) = 0.10 microl/pmol P450/min), and CYP2C8 (K(m) = 33.8 microM, CL(int) = 0.009 microl/pmol P450/min). The present study showed that the two major metabolites of cilostazol in vitro, namely, OPC-13326 and OPC-13217, are mainly catalyzed by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, respectively.     

The quantitative determination of cilostazol and its four metabolites in human liver microsomal incubation mixtures by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method for the quantitation of cilostazol and four of its principal metabolites (i.e. OPC-13015, OPC-13213, OPC-13217 and OPC-13326) in human liver microsomal solutions was developed and validated. Cilostazol, its metabolites, and the internal standard (OPC-3930), were analyzed by protein precipitation followed by reverse-phase HPLC separation on a TSK-Gel ODS-80TM (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column and a Cosmil C-18 column (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) in tandem and UV detection at 254 nm. An 80 min gradient elution of mobile phase acetonitrile in acetate buffer (pH = 6.50) was used to obtain quality chromatography and peak resolution. All the analytes were separated from each other, with the resolution being 2.43-17.59. The components of liver microsomal incubation mixture and five metabolic inhibitor probes (quinidine sulfate, diethyl dithiocarbamate (DEDTC), omeprazole, ketoconazole and furafylline) did not interfere with this analytical method. The LOQ was 1000 ng ml(-1) for cilostazol and 100 ng ml(-1) for each of the metabolites. This method has been validated for linear ranges of 100-4000 ng ml(-1) for OPC-13213, OPC-13217 and OPC-13326; 100-2000 ng ml(-1) for OPC-13015; and 1000-20000 ng ml(-1) for cilostazol. The percent relative recovery of this method was established to be 81.2-101.0% for analytes, with the precision (% coefficient of variation (CV)) being 2.8-7.7%. The autosampler stability of the analytes was evaluated and it was found that all analytes were stable at room temperature for a period of at least 17 h. This assay has been shown to be precise, accurate and reproducible.     

Facilitatory actions of the cognitive enhancer nefiracetam on neuronal Ca2+ channels and nicotinic ACh receptors: their intracellular signal transduction pathways

Nootropics are proposed to serve as cognition enhancers. The underlying mechanism, however, is largely unknown. We have attempted to assess the intracellular signal transduction pathways mediating the action of nefiracetam, a nootropic agent, on neuronal Ca2+ channels and nicotinic ACh receptors. In NG108-15 cells, nefiracetam (1 microM) enhanced the activities of N/L-type Ca2+ channels without affecting T-type The nefiracetam action was mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM), or blocked by pertussis toxin (PTX), indicating that PTX-sensitive inhibitory G-proteins and cAMP-dependent pathways mediate the drug action. Nefiracetam also exerted a dose-dependent biphasic effect on Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes, in which the drug induced a short-term depression of ACh-evoked currents at submicromolar concentrations (0.01-0.1 microM) and a long-term enhancement of the currents at micromolar concentrations (1-10 microM). The depression was caused by activation of PTX-sensitive G-protein-regulated cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) with subsequent phosphorylation of the ACh receptors; in contrast, the enhancement was caused by activation of Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) and the ensuing PKC phosphorylation of the receptors. It is concluded that nefiracetam interacts with PKA and PKC pathways, which may explain a cellular mechanism for the action of cognitive enhancers.     

Multiple signalling pathways involved in beta2-adrenoceptor-mediated glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle cells

1. Beta-adrenoceptor (AR) agonists increase 2-deoxy-[3H]-D-glucose uptake (GU) via beta2-AR in rat L6 cells. The beta-AR agonists, zinterol (beta2-AR) and (-)-isoprenaline, increased cAMP accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner (pEC50=9.1+/-0.02 and 7.8+/-0.02). Cholera toxin (% max increase 141.8+/-2.5) and the cAMP analogues, 8-bromo-cAMP (8Br-cAMP) and dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), also increased GU (196.8+/-13.5 and 196.4+/-17.3%). 2. The adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (50 microM), significantly reduced cAMP accumulation to zinterol (100 nM) (109.7+35.0 to 21.6+4.5 pmol well(-1)), or forskolin (10 microM) (230.1+/-58.0 to 107.2+/-26.3 pmol well(-1)), and partially inhibited zinterol-stimulated GU (217+/-26.3 to 176.1+/-20.4%). The protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, 4-cyano-3-methylisoquinoline (100 nM), did not inhibit zinterol-stimulated GU. The PDE4 inhibitor, rolipram (10 microM), increased cAMP accumulation to zinterol or forskolin, and sensitised the GU response to zinterol, indicating a stimulatory role of cAMP in GU. 3. cAMP accumulation studies indicated that the beta2-AR was desensitised by prolonged stimulation with zinterol, but not forskolin, whereas GU responses to zinterol increased with time, suggesting that receptor desensitisation may be involved in GU. Receptor desensitisation was not reversed by inhibition of PKA or Gi. 4. PTX pretreatment (100 ng ml(-1)) inhibited insulin or zinterol-stimulated but not 8Br-cAMP or dbcAMP-stimulated GU. The PI3K inhibitor, LY294002 (1 microM), inhibited insulin- (174.9+/-5.9 to 142.7+/-2.7%) and zinterol- (166.9+/-7.6 to 141.1+/-8.1%) but not 8 Br-cAMP-stimulated GU. In contrast to insulin, zinterol did not cause phosphorylation of Akt. 5. The results suggest that GU in L6 cells involves three mechanisms: (1) an insulin-dependent pathway involving PI3K, (2) a beta2-AR-mediated pathway involving both cAMP and PI3K, and (3) a receptor-independent pathway suggested by cAMP analogues that increase GU independently of PI3K. PKA appears to negatively regulate beta2-AR-mediated GU.     

Cilostazol and dipyridamole synergistically inhibit human platelet aggregation

It has been previously shown that cilostazol (Pletal), a drug for relief of symptoms of intermittent claudication, potently inhibits cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type 3 (PDE3) and moderately inhibits adenosine uptake. It elevates extracellular adenosine concentration, by inhibiting adenosine uptake, and combines with PDE3 inhibition to augment inhibition of platelet aggregation and vasodilation while attenuating positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that cilostazol combined with a more potent adenosine uptake inhibitor, dipyridamole, synergistically inhibited platelet aggregation in human blood. In the presence of exogenous adenosine (1 microM), the combination of cilostazol and dipyridamole synergistically increased intra-platelet cAMP. Furthermore, cilostazol inhibited platelet aggregation in a washed platelet assay concentration-dependently with IC50s of 0.17 +/- 0.04 microM (P < 0.05 versus plus adenosine alone of 0.38 +/- 0.05 microM), 0.11 +/- 0.06 microM (P < 0.05), and 0.01 +/- 0.01 microM (P < 0.005) when combined with 1, 3, or 10 microM dipyridamole, respectively (n = 5). In whole blood, cilostazol (0.3 to 3 microM) and dipyridamole (1 or 3 microM) synergistically inhibited collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. Furthermore, the synergism was confirmed in an open-label, sequential study in healthy human subjects using ex vivo whole-blood collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Four hours after oral co-administration of cilostazol (100 mg) and dipyridamole (200 mg), platelet aggregation was inhibited by 45 +/- 17%, while no significant inhibition was observed from subjects treated with either drug alone. The combination may provide a potential treatment of arterial thrombotic disorders.     

Bradykinin-induced activation of nociceptors: receptor and mechanistic studies on the neonatal rat spinal cord-tail preparation in vitro.

1. The effects of bradykinin on nociceptors have been characterized on a preparation of the neonatal rat spinal cord with functionally connected tail maintained in vitro. Administration of bradykinin to the tail activated capsaicin-sensitive peripheral fibres and evoked a concentration-dependent (EC50 = 130 nM) depolarization recorded from a spinal ventral root (L3-L5). 2. The response to bradykinin was unaffected by the peptidase inhibitors, bestatin (0.4 mM), thiorphan (1 microM), phosphoramidon (1 microM) and MERGETPA (10 microM) or by the presence of calcium blocking agents, cadmium (200 microM) and nifedipine (10 microM). 3. Inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase with indomethacin (1-5 microM), aspirin (1-10 microM) and paracetamol (10-50 microM) consistently attenuated responses to bradykinin. 4. The effect of bradykinin was mimicked by the phorbol ester PDBu, an activator of protein kinase C. The response to bradykinin was attenuated following desensitization to PDBu but desensitization to bradykinin did not induce a cross-desensitization to PDBu. The protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine (10-500 nM) consistently attenuated the effects of PDBu and bradykinin. 5. Bradykinin responses were reversibly enhanced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (100 microM). However dibutyryl cyclic GMP (0.5 mM) and nitroprusside (10 microM) produced prolonged block of responsiveness to bradykinin. Prolonged superfusion with pertussis toxin did not affect responses to bradykinin. 6. The B1-receptor agonist des Arg9-bradykinin (10-100 microM) was ineffective alone or after prolonged exposure of the tail to lipopolysaccharide (100 ng ml-1) or epidermal growth factor (100 ng ml-1) to induce B1 receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Elevated cAMP suppresses muscarinic inhibition of L-type calcium current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

We investigated the effect of carbachol (CCh) on L-type Ca2+ current (ICa(L)) enhanced by dialyzed adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and/or bath-applied 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) in guinea pig isolated ventricular myocytes. At pipette concentrations ([cAMP]pip) from 30 microM to 1 mM, cAMP increased ICa(L) to 25.8 +/- 0.9 microA/cm2 (682 +/- 24.8% increase above control). CCh (100 microM) did not inhibit ICa(L) at any [cAMP]pip. IBMX, a nonselective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, increased ICa(L) maximally at 300 microM IBMX (17.9 +/- 0.7 microA/cm2; 449 +/- 20% increase). CCh (100 microM) inhibited ICa(L) by 92 +/- 9.5% at 30 microM IBMX and 78 +/- 4.6% at 100 microM IBMX; this effect was reduced or absent at higher IBMX concentrations (300 and 1,000 microM). Coadministration of cAMP and IBMX also progressively suppressed inhibition by CCh. CCh had a negligible effect on ICa(L) at 750 microM IBMX in the absence of pipette cAMP and at 50 microM IBMX in the presence of 100 microM [cAMP]pip. ACh-activated K+ current (IK(ACh)) was unchanged in atrial myocytes dialyzed with 100 microM cAMP; this excludes a phosphorylation-dependent desensitization of the muscarinic receptor (mAChR) or Gi by cAMP. LY83583 (100 microM), an inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, attenuated inhibition of ICa(L) by CCh in the presence of IBMX. 8-Bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP), an activator of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), mimicked CCh in its actions on ICa(L) raised by both cAMP (no significant change) and IBMX (49 +/- 5.1% inhibition). Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of type 1 and 2A phosphatases, blocked inhibition of IBMX-stimulated ICa(L) by either CCh or 8-Br-cGMP. Thus the ability of CCh to inhibit ICa(L) appears caused by cGMP/PKG activation of an okadaic acid-sensitive protein phosphatase, and elevated levels of cAMP protect against this action.     

In vitro metabolism and interaction of cilostazol with human hepatic cytochrome P450 isoforms

1. Cilostazol (OPC-13013) undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism. The hydroxylation of the quinone moiety of cilostazol to OPC-13326 was the predominant route in all the liver preparations studies. The hydroxylation of the hexane moiety to OPC-13217 was the second most predominant route in vitro. 2. Ketoconazole (1 microM) was the most potent inhibitor of both quinone and hexane hydroxylation. Both the CYP2D6 inhibitor quinidine (0.1 microM) and the CYP2C19 inhibitor omeprazole (10 microM) failed to consistently inhibit metabolism of cilostazol via either of these two predominant routes. 3. Data obtained from a bank of pre-characterized human liver microsomes demonstrated a stronger correlation (r2=0.68, P < 0.01) between metabolism of cilostazol to OPC-13326 and metabolism of felodipine, a CYP3A probe, that with probes for any other isoform. Cimetidine demonstrated concentration-dependent competitive inhibition of the metabolism of cilostazol by both routes. 4. Kinetic data demonstrated a Km value of 101 microM for cilostazol, suggesting a relatively low affinity of cilostazol for CYP3A. While recombinant CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 were also able to catalyze formation of specific cilostazol metabolites, they did not appear to contribute significantly to cilostazol metabolism in whole human liver microsomes.     

Activation of BKCa channels via cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinases by eugenosedin-A in rat basilar artery myocytes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The study investigated whether eugenosedin-A, a 5-hydroxytryptamine and alpha/beta adrenoceptor antagonist, enhanced delayed-rectifier potassium (K(DR))- or large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (BK(Ca))-channel activity in basilar artery myocytes through cyclic AMP/GMP-dependent and -independent protein kinases. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Cerebral smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were enzymatically dissociated from rat basilar arteries. Conventional whole cell, perforated and inside-out patch-clamp electrophysiology was used to monitor K(+)- and Ca(2+)-channel activities. KEY RESULTS: Eugenosedin-A (1 microM) did not affect the K(DR) current but dramatically augmented BK(Ca) channel activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Increased BK(Ca) current was abolished by charybdotoxin (ChTX, 0.1 microM) or iberiotoxin (IbTX, 0.1 microM), but not affected by a small-conductance K(Ca) blocker (apamin, 100 microM). BK(Ca) current activation by eugenosedin-A was significantly inhibited by an adenylate cyclase inhibitor (SQ 22536, 10 microM), a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor (ODQ, 10 microM), competitive antagonists of cAMP and cGMP (Rp-cAMP, 100 microM and Rp-cGMP, 100 microM), and cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitors (KT5720, 0.3 microM and KT5823, 0.3 microM). Eugenosedin-A reversed the inhibition of BK(Ca) current induced by the protein kinase C activator, phorbol myristyl acetate (PMA, 0.1 microM). Eugenosedin-A also prevented BK(Ca) current inhibition induced by adding PMA, KT5720 and KT5823. Moreover, eugenosedin-A reduced the amplitude of voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca,L)), but without modifying the voltage-dependence of the current. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Eugenosedin-A enhanced BK(Ca) currents by stimulating the activity of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases. Physiologically, this activation would result in the closure of voltage-dependent calcium channels and thereby relax cerebral SMCs.     

Phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase on at least three sites in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells treated with 56 mM K+: determination of the sites on tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases

Incubation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells with the calcium ionophore, A23187 (10(-5) M), 56 mM K+, or dibutyryl cAMP (2 mM) is associated with increased activity and enhanced phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the cells. Both the activation and the increased phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase produced by A23187 and 56 mM K+ are dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium, whereas similar effects produced by dibutyryl cAMP are independent of calcium. The effects of 56 mM K+ plus dibutyryl cAMP or A23187 plus dibutyryl cAMP on the activation and phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase are additive. In contrast, the effects of 56 mM K+ plus A23187 on either the activation or the phosphorylation of the enzyme are not additive. Following stimulation of intact PC12 cells with 32Pi, in order to label ATP stores, and tryptic digestion of the phosphorylated enzyme, separation of the tryptic phosphopeptides by high pressure liquid chromatography yields four distinct 32P-peptide peaks. Incubation of the cells in the presence of either 56 mM K+ or A23187 is associated with increased 32Pi incorporation into three peptides whereas, in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP, increased 32Pi incorporation is observed in only one of these peptides. When tyrosine hydroxylase purified from rat pheochromocytoma tumor is incubated in vitro with [gamma-32P]ATP and either cAMP-dependent or calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase under appropriate conditions, increased phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase is observed. However, even though in vitro phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase is associated with activation of tyrosine hydroxylase, in vitro phosphorylation by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase does not lead to activation of the enzyme. Tryptic digestion of tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase yields three distinct 32P-peptide peaks, which are identical to those phosphorylated by treatment of intact PC12 cells with either high K+ or A23187. In contrast, cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates only one peptide, which is identical to that phosphorylated by treatment of the intact cells with dibutyryl cAMP. These results indicate that tyrosine hydroxylase is activated and phosphorylated at multiple sites in PC12 cells exposed to 56 mM K+ or A23187. The results suggests that the in situ phosphorylation of these sites is catalyzed by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase; however, phosphorylation by this protein kinase is not sufficient to activate the enzyme.     

Cultured astrocytoma cells generate a nitric oxide-like factor from endogenous L-arginine and glyceryl trinitrate: effect of E. coli lipopolysaccharide.

1. The inhibitory activity of astrocytoma cells (0.25-3 x 10(5)) treated with indomethacin (10 microM) on platelet aggregation was enhanced by incubating the cells with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 micrograms ml-1) for 18 h. This effect was attenuated when cycloheximide (10 micrograms ml-1) was incubated together with LPS. The inhibition of platelet aggregation by cells treated with LPS was potentiated by superoxide dismutase (60 u ml-1) and ablated by oxyhaemoglobin (oxyHb, 10 microM) or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 30-300 microM). The effects of L-NMMA were reversed by co-incubation with L-arginine (L-Arg, 100 microM) but not D-arginine (D-Arg, 100 microM). LPS also increased the levels of nitrite in the culture media and this increase was ablated by co-incubation with L-NMMA (300 microM) or cycloheximide (10 micrograms ml-1). 2. Astrocytoma cells (0.5 x 10(5)) treated with indomethacin (10 microM) enhanced the platelet inhibitory activity of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN, 11-352 microM) but not that of sodium nitroprusside (4 microM). Furthermore, when incubated with GTN (200 microM) a 4 fold increase in the levels of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) was observed. These effects were abrogated by co-incubation with oxyHb (10 microM) but not with L-NMMA (300 microM). Treatment of the cells with LPS (0.5 micrograms ml-1) for 18 h did not enhance their capacity to form NO from GTN. 3. Thus, in cultured astrocytoma cells, LPS enhances the formation of nitric oxide from endogenous L-arginine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fundamental role of nitric oxide in neuritogenesis of PC12h cells

1 We investigated the neuritogenic action of nitric oxide (NO)-generating agents and their mechanisms of action in a subclone of rat pheochromocytoma, PC12h cells. 2 NO donors such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.05-1 microM), NOR1 (5-100 microM), NOR2 (5-20 microM), NOR3 (5-20 microM), NOR4 (5-100 microM), or S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP, 10-100 microM) significantly induced neurite outgrowth. 3 NOR4-induced neurite outgrowth was accompanied by expression of neurofilament 200 kDa subunit (NF200) protein, an axonal marker, and was significantly inhibited by an NO scavenger, a soluble GC inhibitor, and a PKG inhibitor: 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazole-1-oxyl-3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO, 20-100 microM), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 100 microM) and KT5823 (0.2-1 microM), respectively. 4 The intracellular cGMP concentration of cells was markedly increased by treatment with NOR4 (100 microM). 5 A mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase inhibitor, PD98059 (10-50 microM), abolished the NOR4-induced neurite outgrowth. In agreement with this observation, NOR4 did phosphorylate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2, substrates of MAPK kinase. 6 A membrane-permeable cGMP analog, 8-Br-cGMP (1 mM) also induced significant neurite outgrowth. The 8-Br-cGMP-induced neurite outgrowth was almost completely inhibited by both KT5823 (0.5 microM) and PD98059 (50 microM). Moreover, sustained ERK phosphorylation was observed in the 8-Br-cGMP-treated PC12h cells. 7 These results suggest that NO itself has the ability to induce neurite outgrowth and that NO-induced ERK activation involves the NO-cGMP-PKG signaling pathway in PC12h cells.     

Forskolin-induced cyclic AMP signaling in single adherent bovine oviductal cells: effect of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPM).

The influence of tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPM) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (o,p'DDT) on forskolin induced cAMP signalling in single adherent bovine oviductal cells was investigated. An increase in the intracellular cAMP levels was measured indirectly by an increase in the 520/580 nm fluorescence emission ratio of the protein kinase A fluorosensor (FICRhR). FICRhR was microinjected into single cells, and the 520/580 nm fluorescence emission ratio was monitored by image cytometry with an image analysis system as a measure of intracellular cAMP concentration ([cAMP](i)). Applications of dibutyryl cAMP and forskolin caused time- and dose-dependent effects on [cAMP](i) in single oviductal cells. The addition of 16 or 32 microM TCPM or DDT for 1 h to the culture medium decreased the intracellular cAMP concentration significantly, whereas 8 microM was not able to influence the [cAMP](i). In the presence of both pesticides at 16 microM the forskolin (30 microM)-induced [cAMP](i) was significantly reduced after 1 h of incubation. It is suggested that TCPM can have the same influence compared with DDT on cells responsible for reproduction.