Xanthine oxidase activity in rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells and its alteration by activated neutrophils.

The possibility that endothelial cell-derived oxidants could contribute to neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell injury and cytotoxicity has been a subject of speculation. Rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAECs) were examined for the presence of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, a well-known source of O2-. Using a sensitive assay based on measurements of radioactive xanthine conversion to uric acid by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), RPAEC extracts were found to contain both XO and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) activities. Extracts from early passage cells have 55.3 +/- 11.7 (mean +/- SE) units/10(6) cells of total (XO + XD) activity, one unit of activity being defined as the conversion of 1% of substrate to product in 30 minutes of incubation. XO comprised 31.6 +/- 3.1% of this total activity. Addition of human neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) caused a rapid and dose-dependent increase in RPAEC XO activity from 31.6 +/- 3.1% to 71.7 +/- 4.8% of total without altering total (XO + XD) activity. The neutrophil dose-response curve for increase in XO paralleled closely the curve for neutrophil-mediated RPAEC cytotoxicity. The basal XO and XD activities and the neutrophil-induced increase in XO activity were inhibited by treating RPAECs with allopurinol, oxypurinol, and lodoxamide, which also inhibited cytotoxicity, but not by catalase, superoxide dismutase, or deferoxamine. Addition of H2O2 failed to cause an increase in RPAEC XO activity or XD to XO conversion. The results suggest that during neutrophil-mediated injury, rapid conversion of RPAEC XD to XO occurs, resulting in increased XO, catalyzed endogenous oxidant production, which may contribute to the oxidant burden in the killing mechanism initiated by activated neutrophils. Although the mechanism for conversion of XD to XO is uncertain, it appears that neutrophil-derived H2O2 is not sufficient to cause this phenomenon. Furthermore, neither O2- nor chelatable iron is required for neutrophil-induced XD to XO conversion. Supernatant fluids from activated neutrophils failed to induce XD to XO conversion in RPAECs. This in vitro system provides an opportunity to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the in vivo phenomenon of XD to XO conversion associated with ischemic/reperfusion or inflammatory tissue injury.     

皮质酮抑制LPS诱导的小鼠巨噬细胞NLRP3表达及与XO的关系

目的:探讨皮质酮(CORT)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小鼠巨噬细胞核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3(NLRP3)表达的抑制作用及与黄嘌呤氧化酶(XO)的关系。方法:用LPS构建小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7的炎症模型。运用不同浓度(0~900μg/L)的CORT处理巨噬细胞后提取细胞总蛋白,Western blot法检测细胞NLRP3和caspase-1的蛋白水平;按处理因素分组为:对照组、LPS组、LPS+CORT组和LPS+别嘌呤醇(allopurinol)组,分别于0、0.5、1、1.5和2 h提取细胞成分,运用real-time PCR和Western blot法检测细胞NLRP3和XO的m RNA和蛋白水平。结果:高于700μg/L的CORT可显著抑制LPS诱导的巨噬细胞中NLRP3的表达及caspase-1的活化(P0.05);与LPS组相比,LPS+CORT在下调LPS诱导的巨噬细胞NLRP3表达的同时抑制XO的表达(P0.05),LPS+allopurinol组巨噬细胞NLRP3的表达减少(P0.05)。结论:较高浓度的CORT能抑制LPS诱导的小鼠巨噬细胞NLRP3的表达,而CORT的抑制作用可能与其下调XO的表达水平有关。     

Levels and interactions of plasma xanthine oxidase, catalase and liver function parameters in Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum infection

Elevated plasma levels of xanthine oxidase and liver function parameters have been associated with inflammatory events in several human diseases. While xanthine oxidase provides in vitro protection against malaria, its pathophysiological functions in vivo and interactions with liver function parameters remain unclear. This study examined the interactions and plasma levels of xanthine oxidase (XO) and uric acid (UA), catalase (CAT) and liver function parameters GOT, GPT and bilirubin in asymptomatic (n=20), uncomplicated (n=32), and severe (n=18) falciparum malaria children aged 3-13 years. Compared to age-matched control (n=16), significant (p<0.05) elevation in xanthine oxidase by 100-550%, uric acid by 15.4-153.8%, GOT and GPT by 22.1-102.2%, and total bilirubin by 2.3-86% according to parasitaemia (geometric mean parasite density (GMPD)=850-87100 parasites/microL) was observed in the malarial children. Further comparison with control revealed higher CAT level (16.2+/-0.5 vs 14.6+/-0.4 U/L; p<0.05) lacking significant (p>0.05) correlation with XO, but lower CAT level (13.4-5.4 U/L) with improved correlations (r=-0.53 to -0.91; p<0.05) with XO among the asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria children studied. 75% of control, 45% of asymptomatic, 21.9% of uncomplicated, and none of severe malaria children had Hb level>11.0 g/dL. Multivariate analyses further revealed significant (p<0.05) correlations between liver function parameters and xanthine oxidase (r=0.57-0.64) only in the severe malaria group. We conclude that elevated levels of XO and liver enzymes are biochemical features of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in Nigerian children, with both parameters interacting differently to modulate the catalase response in asymptomatic and symptomatic falciparum malaria.     

Hypoxic preconditioning attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress in rat kidneys

Chronic hypoxic (CH) preconditioning reduces superoxide-induced renal dysfunction via the upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and contents. Endotoxaemia reduces renal antioxidant status. We hypothesize that CH preconditioning might protect the kidney from subsequent endotoxaemia-induced oxidative injury. Endotoxaemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 4 mg kg⁻¹) in rats kept at sea level (SL) and rats with CH in an altitude chamber (5500 m for 15 h day⁻¹) for 4 weeks. LPS enhanced xanthine oxidase (XO) and gp91phox (catalytic subunit of NADPH oxidase) expression associated with burst amount of superoxide production from the SL kidney surface and renal venous blood detected by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. LPS induced a morphologic-independent renal dysfunction in baseline and acute saline loading stages and increased renal IL-1β protein and urinary protein concentration in the SL rats. After 4 weeks of induction, CH significantly increased Cu/ZnSOD, MnSOD and catalase expression (16 ± 17, 128 ± 35 and 48 ± 21, respectively) in renal cortex, and depressed renal cortex XO (44 ± 16%) and renal cortex (20 ± 9%) and medulla (28 ± 11%) gp91phox when compared with SL rats. The combined effect of enhanced antioxidant proteins and depressed oxidative proteins significantly reduced LPS-enhanced superoxide production, renal XO and gp91phox expression, renal IL-1β production, and urinary protein level. CH also ameliorated LPS-induced renal dysfunction in the baseline and acute saline loading periods. We conclude that CH treatment enhances the intrarenal antioxidant/oxidative protein ratio to overcome endotoxaemia-induced reactive oxygen species formation and inflammatory cytokine release.     

Protective roles of cholecystokinin in endotoxin-induced and peroxynitrite-mediated injury in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

Protective roles of cholecystokinin in endotoxin-induced and peroxynitrite-mediated injury in pulmonary artery endothelial cells     

Ultrastructural localization of xanthine oxidoreductase activity in isolated rat liver cells

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) can exist in a dehydrogenase form (XD) and an oxidase form (XO). The D-form uses NAD as cofactor and the O-form uses oxygen as second substrate and produces oxygen radicals. Both enzymes have a high affinity for hypoxanthine and xanthine as substrate and produce uric acid, a potent antioxidant. In the present study, XOR activity was demonstrated with the ferricyanide method in permeabilized isolated rat liver cells at the electron microscopical level. Moreover, ultrastructural localization of XO activity in these cells was studied with the cerium salt method. Activity of both XOR and XO was found in matrix and core of peroxisomes of rat liver parenchymal cells. Only XOR activity was present as well in the cytoplasm of rat liver parenchymal cells. In Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells, XOR activity was demonstrated in vesicles and occasionally on granular endoplasmic reticulum. XO activity was not found in Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The presence of uric acid oxidase activity in matrix and core of peroxisomes as was found previously suggests further breakdown of purines to allantoin in peroxisomes. It is suggested that the major function of XOR activity in the cytoplasm of rat liver parenchymal cells and in sinusoidal cells is not the production of oxygen radicals, but rather the production of uric acid which can act as a potent antioxidant.     

The mechanism of inhibition by xanthine of adenosine A1-receptor responses in rat hippocampus

We have recently observed that the free radical-generating mixture of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X/XO) can suppress the inhibitory effects of adenosine on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, but that this action can be mimicked by xanthine alone. We have now clarified the mechanism of these interactions by using the new, potent and highly selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, 1-(3-cyano-4-neopentyloxyphenyl)pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (Y-700). Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. X/XO induced a long-lasting increase of fEPSP slope and significantly reduced the presynaptic inhibitory effect of adenosine. Both these actions were prevented by Y-700 at a concentration of only 200nM. Similarly the superfusion of xanthine alone increased fEPSP slope and reduced sensitivity to adenosine but these effects were also prevented by Y-700. The results indicate that the antagonism of adenosine responses by X/XO or by xanthine alone are entirely attributable to the activity of the added or endogenous XO activity, probably generating free radicals, and are not likely to be caused by a direct antagonistic action at the xanthine-sensitive site on the adenosine receptor.     

超氧阴离子对缺氧大鼠肺内动脉乙酰胆碱舒张反应的影响

本文应用微量生物测定法观察超氧阴离子在慢性缺氧影响肺内动脉乙酰胆硷舒张反应中的作用。发现慢性缺氧可明显减弱大鼠肺内动脉的ACh内皮依赖性舒张,超氧化物歧化酶则可使此舒张反应恢复到正常水平。利用黄嘌呤—黄嘌呤氧化酶系统产生氧自由基(主要为O_2~((?))可削弱正常大鼠肺内动脉的ACh舒张反应,同样SOD可保护其免遭外源性氧自由基的损伤。结果表明慢性缺氧使肺血管氧自由基(尤其是O_2~((?))产生增多是大鼠肺内动脉ACh舒张反应受到损伤的原因之一。     

氧自由基在高氧所致离体血管内皮细胞损伤中的作用

本实验研究了离体兔主动脉血管内皮细胞在常压高氧(100%O_2)条件下(0～72h)细胞形态、三磷酸腺苷(ATP)、黄嘌呤氧化酶(XO)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-px)活性的改变。我们的实验发现内皮细胞形态改变(细胞肿胀、畸形、脱落)呈时间依赖性;ATP含量经短暂的升高后(24h)持续降低(48～72h);高氧作用24～48h内皮细胞XO活性、MDA含量持续升高,72h XO活性、MDA含量开始降低,但仍高于对照组;GSH-px活性在48h内无明显改变,72h其活性升高。上述结果表明高氧确能引起内皮细胞损伤,氧自由基在其损伤过程中有重要作用。     

H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity of rat pulmonary endothelial cells. Changes in adenosine triphosphate and purine products and effects of protective interventions

H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity (as measured by 51Cr-release) of rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells was time-dependent and related to the concentration of H2O2 employed. The cytotoxic effects of H2O2 were, as expected, prevented by catalase and the degree of protection was directly related to its time of addition. Endothelial cells were incubated with [14C]adenosine to achieve intracellular labeling of ATP, after which the cells were exposed to H2O2. Based on analysis of cell extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography, there was a time-dependent loss of intracellular radioactivity and ATP with the simultaneous appearance of purine degradation products including xanthine/hypoxanthine. Approximately 50% of the intracellular ATP was lost after 15 minutes of exposure and up to 80% was lost by 30 minutes. The extracellular fluid of cells exposed to H2O2 contained significant amounts of xanthine/hypoxanthine. The ferric iron chelator deferoxamine provided almost complete protection against H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity. Two inhibitors of xanthine oxidase, allopurinol and oxypurinol, were also protective as was deoxycoformycin, an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase. Remarkably, cells protected by these agents showed the same loss of intracellular ATP as unprotected, H2O2-treated cells. These findings demonstrate the dissociation between ATP loss per se and oxidant injury of endothelial cells. ATP breakdown may be an important event leading to cellular injury in that this results in the formation of substrate for xanthine oxidase.     

Immunocytochemical localization of xanthine oxidase in rat myocardium

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) to xanthine oxidase (XO) (from bovine milk) were produced by hybridoma technique. Culture supernatants were initially screened using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA). Forty four positive clones were subcloned and further characterized by ELISA and immunoblot analysis. Out of fifteen clones, which were positive in immunoblot analysis, one clone N2-26 was also positive in immunocytochemical studies. Indirect immunoperoxidase and enzyme histochemistry staining showed that XO activity is present in endothelial cells of capillaries, small blood vessels and also in interstitial cells. Electron microscopy revealed that diaminobenzidine reaction product was distributed in the cytoplasm of interstitial cells and endothelial cells of capillaries and small blood vessels. This is the first report of the presence of XO in interstitial cells and endothelial cells of small blood vessels. Allopurinol, which inhibits the xanthine oxidase activity, did not have any effect on the immunocytochemical staining. Our results in normal rat heart suggest that XO activity is confined to interstitial cells, endothelial cells of capillaries and small blood vessels.     

On the role of hydroxyl radical and the effect of tetrandrine on nuclear factor--kappaB activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is considered to be an important target for therapeutic intervention because of its role in the regulation of proinflammatory and profibrotic mediators. The present study examined the role of hydroxyl (*OH) radical and the effect of tetrandrine, an alkaloid extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Stephania tetrandra, on NF-kappaB activation by a tumor promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in human lymphoid T cells (ie, Jurkat cells). Exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) enhanced the NF-kappaB activation by PMA, while catalase blocked it. Formate, a scavenger of *OH radical, also was inhibitory, as was deferoxamine, a metal chelator. These data suggest an important role of *OH radical in PMA-induced NF-kappaB activation. Incubation of the cells with tetrandrine prior to the stimulation of the cells was found to inhibit PMA-induced NF-kappaB activation. Tetrandrine activity was so potent that 50 microM of tetrandrine was sufficient to inhibit activation of NF-kappaB completely. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping was used to investigate the antioxidant action of tetrandrine using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap. Tetrandrine is an antioxidant for both *OH and superoxide (O2-)radicals. The reaction rate constant of tetrandrine with *OH is 1.4 x 10(10) M(-1)sec(-1), which is comparable with several well established antioxidants, such as ascorbate, glutathione, and cysteine. The Fenton reaction (Fe(II) + H2O2-->Fe(III) + *OH + OH-) and xanthine/xanthine oxidase were used as sources of *OH and O2- radicals. The free radical scavenging activity of tetrandrine is responsible for its inhibition of PMA-induced NF-kappaB activation.     

Role of xanthine oxidase in the genesis of acute pancreatitis

Experiments were conducted on 268 male albino rats with modeled acute pancreatitis to study the xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in the pancreatic tissue during intraperitoneal administration of stimulators of pancreatic exocrine function (pilocarpine) and inhibitors of enzyme activity (allopurinol). Pilocarpine (0.1 mg/kg) increased XO activity by 90-100% one-three hours after injection, which was due to increased synthesis of the enzyme. Allopurinol (500 mg/kg) inhibiting XO activity removes the XO activating effect of pilocarpine in the first two hours after injection. It was established that one of the tranquilizers of the 1,4-benzodiazepine series--seduxen (15 mg/kg) produces an inhibiting effect on XO activity and, like allopurinol, removes the XO activating effect of pilocarpine. Complete parallelism was also revealed between the dynamics of changes of XO activity in the pancreatic tissue and alpha-amylase in blood under the effect of the preparations studied.     

Cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha for human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined for sensitivity to killing by human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Treatment of the cells with concentrations of TNF-alpha up to 50 ng/ml for 18 hours did not produce evidence of cytotoxicity. However, a marked cytotoxic effect was found when TNF-alpha pretreated cells were incubated in Hanks' balanced salt solution for a further 4 hours. Exposure of the cells to heat-inactivated or antibody-neutralized TNF-alpha did not result in cytotoxicity. Human recombinant interleukin-1 also lysed endothelial cells under the same conditions, whereas human recombinant macrophage-colony stimulating factor did not. Inclusion of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or soybean trypsin inhibitor in the culture medium during the time of endothelial cell exposure to TNF-alpha had no protective effects. Likewise, allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor) and nordihydro-guaiaretic acid (a lipoxygenase inhibitor) were not protective under the same conditions. In contrast, the ferric iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate and three different cyclooxygenase inhibitors provided significant protection against TNF-alpha induced cytotoxicity. When human dermal fibroblasts and human squamous epithelial cells were used in place of the umbilical vein endothelial cells, these cells were resistant to TNF-alpha mediated killing. These findings demonstrate that under the experimental conditions employed, TNF-alpha is cytotoxic for human umbilical vein endothelial cells. This may have implications in a number of in vivo situations in which TNF-alpha is thought to play a role.     

Effects of pirfenidone on the generation of reactive oxygen species in vitro.

Pirfenidone is a newly developed antifibrotic drug that has been reported to retard the progression of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin and cyclophosphamide in animal models of lung fibrosis. The present in vitro studies using noncellular and cellular systems evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of this drug. The Fenton reaction [Fe(II) + H2O2 --> Fe(III) + *OH + OH-] and the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system were used as sources of hydroxyl (*OH) and superoxide anion (O2*-) radicals, respectively. Electron spin resonance spin trapping was used for free radical detection and measurement. The reaction rate of pirfenidone with *OH was found to be 1.63 x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1), which is comparable to several well-established antioxidants, such as ascorbate, glutathione, cysteine, azide, and lipoic acid. Compared to *OH radicals, the O2*- scavenging was less efficient 42.36 M(-1) s(-1) with pirfenidone. Pirfenidone was also effective in inhibiting zymosan-stimulated chemiluminescence. In a noncellular model of lipid peroxidation, pirfenidone inhibited crystalline silica-induced lipid peroxidation. The inhibition of crystalline silica-induced cytotoxic reactions and lipid peroxidation combined with the efficient antioxidant properties of pirfenidone indicate that this agent may express its antifibrotic effects partly through its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species.     

Heat shock protein 90 inhibitors protect and restore pulmonary endothelial barrier function

Heat shock protein 90 (hsp90) inhibitors inactivate and/or degrade various client proteins, including many involved in inflammation. Increased vascular permeability is a hallmark of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Thus, we tested the hypothesis that hsp90 inhibitors may prevent and/or restore endothelial cell (EC) permeability after injury. Exposure of confluent bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cell (BPAEC) monolayer to TGF-beta1, thrombin, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increased BPAEC permeability, as revealed by decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (TER). Treatment of injured endothelium with hsp90 inhibitors completely restored TER of BPAEC. Similarly, preincubation of BPAEC with hsp90 inhibitors prevented the decline in TER induced by the exposure to thrombin, LPS, VEGF, or TGF-beta1. In addition, hsp90 inhibitors restored the EC barrier function after PMA or nocodazole-induced hyperpermeability. These effects of the hsp90 inhibitors were associated with the restoration of TGF-beta1- or nocodazole-induced decrease in VE-cadherin and beta-catenin expression at EC junctions. The protective effect of hsp90 inhibitors on TGF-beta1-induced hyperpermeability was critically dependent upon preservation of F-actin cytoskeleton and was associated with the inhibition of agonist-induced myosin light chain (MLC) and myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation, F-actin stress fibers formation, microtubule disassembly, increase in hsp27 phosphorylation, and association of hsp90 with hsp27, but independent of p38MAPK activity. We conclude that hsp90 inhibitors exert barrier protective effects on BPAEC, at least in part, via inhibition of hsp27-mediated, agonist-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement, and therefore may have useful therapeutic value in ALI, ARDS, and other pulmonary inflammatory disease.     

Effects of cis-resveratrol on inflammatory murine macrophages: antioxidant activity and down-regulation of inflammatory genes

This study investigated for the first time the effects of the cis isomer of resveratrol (c-RESV) on the responses of inflammatory murine peritoneal macrophages, namely on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) during the respiratory burst; on the biosynthesis of other mediators of inflammation such prostaglandins; and on the expression of inflammatory genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 and inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Treatment with 1-100 microM c-RESV significantly inhibited intracellular and extracellular ROS production, and c-RESV at 10-100 microM significantly reduced RNS production. c-RESV at 1-100 microM was ineffective for scavenging superoxide radicals (O(2)(.-)), generated enzymatically by a hypoxanthine (HX)/xanthine oxidase (XO) system and/or for inhibiting XO activity. However, c-RESV at 10-100 microM decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH/NADPH) oxidase activity in macrophage homogenates. c-RESV at 100 microM decreased NOS-2 and COX-2 mRNA levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-treated macrophages. At 10-100 microM, c-RESV also significantly inhibited NOS-2 and COX-2 protein synthesis and decreased prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production. These results indicate that c-RESV at micromolar concentrations significantly attenuates several components of the macrophage response to proinflammatory stimuli (notably, production of O(2)(.-)(-) and of the proinflammatory mediators NO(.-) and PGE(2)).     

Mechanism of neutrophil-induced xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase conversion in endothelial cells: evidence of a role for elastase.

Activated neutrophils cause conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to its oxidase form (xanthine oxidase) in endothelial cells, the mechanism of which may be related to the cytotoxic effect of activated neutrophils. The elastase inhibitors, elastatinal, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and MeO-Suc-(Ala)2-Pro-Val-CH2Cl, significantly inhibited xanthine dehydrogenase to oxidase conversion by phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated neutrophils without inhibition of neutrophil adherence to the endothelial cell monolayer. The role of elastase in this enzyme conversion process was confirmed by the ability of purified elastase to cause conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase in intact endothelial cells (or cell extracts) without causing cytotoxicity. In contrast, cathepsin G failed to cause conversion. The kinetics of conversion induced by elastase was relatively rapid, being essentially completed by 30 min. Upon removal of elastase, the effect was slowly (greater than 12 h) reversible and could be inhibited by cycloheximide treatment. Exposure of endothelial cells to hypoxia failed to enhance the elastase-induced conversion. Treatment of endothelial cells with Ca2+ ionophores failed to cause conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to oxidase, suggesting that intracellular Ca(2+)-activated proteases are not sufficient to induce this process. Neutrophil-induced xanthine dehydrogenase to oxidase conversion was inhibited by concomitant treatment with antibodies to CD11b. The results suggest that activated neutrophils induce conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to oxidase by secretion of elastase in close proximity to the endothelial cells and that this intimate contact between the two cell types enables high local concentrations of elastase to be attained, which are sufficient to cause xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase conversion.     

The antioxidant action of dalargin on the liver in experimental acute cholestasis

Experiments were conducted on 182 rats with acute cholestasis to study the effect of intra-abdominal dalargin injection (10 mcg/kg) with the serotonin antagonist ketanserine (150 mg/kg) on xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and level of lipid peroxidation in the hepatic tissue and on the activity of the hepatospecific enzymes histidase and urokaninase in hepatic tissue and blood serum 1, 3, and 5 hours after the injection. Dalargin reduced XO activity by 32-37% in different periods after the injection, dalargin in combination with ketanserine--by 37-48%. Dalargin reduced the level of lipid peroxidation by 29-35%, and when combined with ketanserine--by 37-49%. The administration of dalargin reveals a distinct tendency towards reduction of the release of the hepatospecific enzymes histidase and urokanase into the blood and increase of their activity in the hepatic tissue. Dalargin with ketanserine produces a similar effect but of a higher degree. These data allow us to speak of the hepatoprotective effect of dalargin, which is potentiated by its injection together with ketanserine. It was found that dalargin (50 mcg/kg, intraperitoneally) increases the leu-enkephalin content in the hepatic tissue more than 3.5 fold one hour after injection.     

Peroxynitrite-mediated pulmonary vascular injury induced by endotoxin and protective role of cholecystokinin

Peroxynitrite-mediated pulmonary vascular injury induced by endotoxin and protective role of cholecystokinin