Dose-related antagonism of leukotriene D4-induced bronchoconstriction by p.o. administration of LY-171883 in nonasthmatic subjects

Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) has been suggested as a proinflammatory mediator in asthma. We have investigated the inhibitory activity of the p.o. LTD4 antagonist LY-171883 (1-[2-hydroxy-3-propyl]-4-[4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]phenyl]et hanone) on LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction in nonasthmatic subjects, in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, cross-over study. Twelve subjects, mean age 26.3 +/- 1.7 years, participated. On 4 separate days, base-line measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and maximum flow at 70% of vital capacity below total lung capacity (Vp30) were performed, after which subjects ingested either 50 or 200 or 400 mg of LY-171883, and then undertook a dose-response study with inhaled LTD4. Measurements of FEV1 and Vp30 were made at intervals for 8 min after inhalation of each dose of LTD4, and increasing doses administered until FEV1 had fallen by greater than 20% or the maximum cumulative dose of LTD4 (88.2 nmol) had been given. Cumulative dose-response curves were constructed on a logarithmic scale, and the provocation doses of LTD4 producing a 12% fall in FEV1 (PD12 FEV1) and a 30% fall in Vp30 (PD30Vp30) after placebo determined by linear interpolation to be 5.5 (0.9-176.4) and 1.2 (0.1-6.2) nmol, respectively. Following the 50-, 200- and 400-mg doses of LY-171883, the geometric mean PD12 FEV1 values were 7.0 (NS), 10.5 (NS) and 25.3 (P less than .01) nmol, respectively, whereas corresponding values for PD30Vp30 were 1.7 (NS), 2.6 (NS) and 6.1 (P less than .01) nmol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of platelet depletion on the unanesthetized sheep''s pulmonary response to endotoxemia

The effect of platelet depletion on the unanesthetized sheep's pulmonary response to endotoxemia was studied in eight unanesthetized sheep. Platelets were depleted with rabbit anti-sheep platelet antibodies (APA). Bolus injections of APA alone caused marked pulmonary hypertension (PPA increased from 21 +/- 2 to 62 +/- 5 cm H2O +/- SE) and alterations in lung mechanics (dynamic compliance of the lung [Cdyn] decreased to 38.5 +/- 4.6% and resistance to air flow across the lung [RL] increased to 705 +/- 162% +/- SE of control), which were attenuated by pretreatment with meclofenamate. It was possible to deplete platelets before endotoxemia through a slow continuous infusion of APA without altering base-line values of the measured variables. Platelet depletion did not significantly attenuate the alterations in pulmonary hemodynamics, lung mechanics, lung fluid and solute exchange, or the normal increase in lung lymph concentrations of thromboxane B2 or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha observed following endotoxemia in the sheep. We conclude that normal circulating platelet counts are not required for the full expression of the sheep's response to endotoxemia.     

Effect of anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody on clearance of Escherichia coli bacteremia and endotoxemia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of an anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody on the clearance of a bacteremic Escherichia coli challenge in the presence or absence of antimicrobial agents. DESIGN: Prospective randomized animal study. SETTING: University-affiliated research laboratory. SUBJECTS: New Zealand White rabbits weighing 1.5-2.5 kg. INTERVENTIONS: Animals were pretreated with either an anti-lapine CD14 monoclonal antibody (immunoglobulin G2a, 5 mg/kg intravenously) or an isotype control monoclonal antibody. The animals then were challenged with 1 x 10(6) E. coli 018:K1 in the presence or absence of ceftazidime (50 mg/kg intravenously). There were four groups of six animals randomized to receive either anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody without ceftazidime, isotype control monoclonal antibody without ceftazidime, anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody with ceftazidime, or isotype control antibody with ceftazidime. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serial measurement of quantitative bacteremia and endotoxemia was performed over 24 hrs after the administration of the bacterial challenge. Animals also underwent necropsy with quantitative bacterial cultures from multiple organ tissue samples. The anti-lapine CD14 monoclonal antibody significantly impaired the bloodstream clearance of E. coli (p <.01) and increased quantitative counts of E. coli in tissue culture samples when compared with isotype control antibody in the absence of simultaneous administration of ceftazidime. No differences in quantitative bacteremia, endotoxemia, or organ tissue counts were found after anti-CD14 antibody and control antibody-treated animals in the presence of ceftazidime treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody has the capacity to interfere with the innate immune response and systemic microbial clearance in experimental animals with E. coli bacteremia. The concomitant administration of effective antimicrobial therapy eliminated differences in the rate of microbial clearance between the control antibody and the CD14 monoclonal antibody. These results indicate that care should be taken in clinical trials with anti-CD14 monoclonal antibodies to ensure that adequate antimicrobial therapy is administered in the presence of systemic bacterial infection.     

Effect of dietary linoleate content on the metabolic response of rats to Escherichia coli endotoxin

Dietary fat influences many aspects of immune function. Escherichia coli endotoxin is a potent stimulator of interleukin 1 production from macrophages. The present study examines the effect of feeding with fat diets rich (corn oil) and poor (coconut oil) in linoleate at high and low concentrations on responses to endotoxin. Spleen phosphatidylcholine linoleate contents were higher in the corn oil than in the coconut oil group and arachidonate concentrations were highest in the group fed a high concentration of corn oil. Coconut oil completely abolished the responses to endotoxin. The inhibitory effects of coconut oil could largely be due to reduced prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis.     

L-651,392, a potent leukotriene inhibitor, controls inflammatory process in Escherichia coli pyelonephritis.

In this study, the relationship between leukotrienes, peritubular cell infiltration with polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and renal tubular damage was investigated in a rat model of acute ascending pyelonephritis. Infection was induced by the injection of 10(5) CFU of Escherichia coli into the bladder and occlusion of the left ureter for 24 h. Treatment of infected animals was started 24 h after the induction of pyelonephritis with either hydrocortisone (25 mg/kg of body weight per day), the leukotriene inhibitor L-651,392 (10 mg/kg/day), or the vehicle of L-651,392 and was maintained for 5 days. At the end of treatment, the animals were killed, serum was collected, and both kidneys were removed for colony counts and histopathology. Renal function was evaluated by the measurement of blood urea nitrogen levels and creatinine clearance. The numbers of PMNs and mononuclear cells (MNs) in the cortex and medulla were recorded for all groups on plastic sections done from the left kidney. Infection alone (vehicle of L-651,392) resulted in intensive interstitial infiltration and a severe tubular destruction in the cortex. Treatment with hydrocortisone did not prevent PMN migration and tissue damage. By contrast, treatment with L-651,392 resulted in a significant reduction in PMNs (P < 0.001 in comparisons with all other groups) and greater preservation of the tubular structure despite identical bacterial counts than in the group receiving hydrocortisone. We conclude that L-651,392 prevents inflammatory cells from reaching the site of infection and protects the kidney from tubular damage associated with inflammation during pyelonephritis. Inhibitors of leukotrienes should be further investigated for their potential benefit as adjuvants to antibiotherapy in the treatment of pyelonephritis.     

Effect of Osmolality on the Response of Escherichia coli to Mecillinam

The influence of osmolality on the effect of the novel β-lactam antibiotic, mecillinam, on Escherichia coli was examined in a turbidimetric system. Both sucrose and sodium chloride were able to protect E. coli from the effects of mecillinam during the stage of conversion to morphologically abnormal forms, and the additional presence of small amounts of magnesium sulfate protected the spherical forms from subsequent lysis. More phenotypically “resistant” survivors were recovered in osmotically protective media than in broth of low osmolality. Sucrose appeared a better protective agent than sodium chloride, but growth of the phenotypically resistant population was much slower in the sucrose-containing than in sodium chloride-containing medium.     

Effect of cyclooxygenase inhibition on the pulmonary vasodilator response to furosemide

Furosemide is a potent vasodilator of the systemic arterial and venous systems. The mechanism of vasodilatation, however, remains unclear. We investigated the vasodilatory effect of furosemide and its relation to endogenous prostaglandins (PGs). In the isolated canine lung lobe, furosemide significantly decreased mean pulmonary artery pressure. This effect was inhibited by indomethacin. Furosemide also attenuated the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to the endoperoxide analog U46619 and PGF2 alpha. The pulmonary pressor response to a submaximal constrictor dose of arachidonic acid was significantly enhanced by furosemide, however, the pressor response to a maximal constrictor dose of arachidonic acid was attenuated, although not significantly. In animals pretreated with indomethacin, furosemide had no effect on the vascular response to PGF2 alpha, but the response to U46619 was significantly increased. Prostacyclin reduced pulmonary perfusion pressure and inhibited the pressor response to PGF2 alpha and U46619. Furosemide failed to alter inactivation of PGE2 on pulmonary lobe transit. We conclude that: 1) the vasodilatory activity of furosemide is mediated by increased production and not decreased metabolism of an endogenous cyclooxygenase product; 2) the effect of prostacyclin on vascular reactivity is similar to that of furosemide; and 3) local formation of prostacyclin by vascular tissue most likely mediates the vascular activity of furosemide.     

Effect of a proteolytic enzyme inhibitor on the cardiopulmonary response to endotoxin

Gabexate mesilate (GM), a proteolytic enzyme inhibitor, was given to 31 chronically instrumented sheep either as a pretreatment or treatment to determine its effects on the cardiopulmonary response to endotoxin (ET). Twelve sheep received GM prior to endotoxin (0.75 microgram/kg), 10 after ET and 9 received GM without ET. A typical biphasic response was noted; phase I showed increased lymph flow (QL), reduced lymph to plasma protein ratio (L/P) and increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). Phase II occurred two hours after ET; the lymph flow remained elevated and the L/P ratio rose slightly above control. Both phases demonstrated an elevation in total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) and hematocrit but a reduction in cardiac output (CO). In phase II, QL was reduced 35% with pretreatment; the L/P ratio did not rise as much and the PAP was unchanged. There was also a 35% reduction in lymph flow; no change in the lymph to plasma protein ratio but there was an elevation in pulmonary microvascular pressure. Pretreatment with GM diminished the fall in CO and the rise in TPR seen with endotoxin. The values were unaffected by treatment alone.     

Effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin on pulmonary vascular resistance in intact dogs

The effects of endotoxin on pulmonary hemodynamics were studied in seven intact dogs. The distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance was estimated by the effective pulmonary capillary pressure, which was derived from the pressure transient recorded while the pulmonary artery catheter was rapidly wedged. After the injection of endotoxin, cardiac output and aortic pressure consistently fell. Pulmonary artery occlusion (wedge) pressure also decreased, but not significantly. Although pulmonary artery pressure did not necessarily rise, total pulmonary vascular resistance increased in every dog. The absolute increase in pulmonary artery resistance was greater (142 mm Hg/L X min/kg); than in venous resistance (111 mm Hg/L X min/kg); however, the relative increase in venous resistance was higher (410% for venous resistance vs. 220% for pulmonary artery resistance). As a result of venoconstriction, there was a consistent increase in effective pulmonary capillary pressure (from 2.5 to 6.3 mm Hg). Our data indicate that the pulmonary vascular response to endotoxin injection is characterized by constriction of both pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins. The capillary wedge pressure did not reflect the pulmonary microvascular pressure, since it varied in the opposite direction to the effective capillary pressure.     

Endogenous interleukin-12 improves the early antimicrobial host response to murine Escherichia coli peritonitis

Interleukin (IL)-12 is a heterodimeric proinflammatory cytokine formed by a p35 and a p40 subunit. To determine the role of IL-12 in abdominal sepsis, p35 gene-deficient (IL-12 knockout, KO) mice and normal wild-type (WT) mice were injected intraperitoneally with Escherichia coli. Peritonitis was associated with a bacterial dose-dependent increase in IL-12 p40 and IL-12 p75 concentrations in peritoneal fluid and plasma. Whereas at 6 h postinfection, IL-12 KO and WT mice displayed similar bacterial counts, at 20 hours IL-12 KO mice had significantly more bacteria in liver homogenates and were more susceptible to progressing to systemic infection. In addition, IL-12 KO mice demonstrated higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in peritoneal fluid and increased lung and liver injury. IL-12 deficiency did not influence the recruitment of cells to the site of the infection. These data suggest that endogenous IL-12 is involved in the early antibacterial host response during abdominal sepsis.     

Effect of the inhibition of protein synthesis on the Escherichia coli cell envelope

The consequences for cell envelope integrity of Escherichia coli K-12 of the inhibition of protein synthesis by a variety of means have been examined. Protein synthesis was blocked by the antibiotics chloramphenicol and streptomycin, by amino acid starvation of an amino acid auxotroph, and by inactivation of temperature-sensitive aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase and ribosomal mutations. Closely similar morphological and physiological effects were found irrespective of the means by which protein synthesis was blocked. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a spectrum of changes after protein inhibition, with granular material derived from cells and spheroplasts commonly seen. Streptomycin caused additional changes manifested in a collapsed appearance of treated cells. Measurements of the release of lipopolysaccharide from the cell surface, alterations in outer membrane penetrability, and lysis of lysozyme-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-treated cultures also showed that the various inhibitory treatments all had similar effects on cell envelope properties. The close correspondence between the effects seen with antibiotic-treated cultures and those in which protein synthesis inhibition was achieved by use of mutants indicates that the effects of chloramphenicol and streptomycin on the cell envelope are indirect consequences of ribosomal block, rather than due to multiple sites of action of the antibiotics.     

Effect of anaerobic growth on quinolone lethality with Escherichia coli

Quinolone activity against Escherichia coli was examined during aerobic growth, aerobic treatment with chloramphenicol, and anaerobic growth. Nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and PD161144 were lethal for cultures growing aerobically, and the bacteriostatic activity of each quinolone was unaffected by anaerobic growth. However, lethal activity was distinct for each quinolone with cells treated aerobically with chloramphenicol or grown anaerobically. Nalidixic acid failed to kill cells under both conditions; norfloxacin killed cells when they were grown anaerobically but not when they were treated with chloramphenicol; ciprofloxacin killed cells under both conditions but required higher concentrations than those required with cells grown aerobically; and PD161144, a C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolone, was equally lethal under all conditions. Following pretreatment with nalidixic acid, a shift to anaerobic conditions or the addition of chloramphenicol rapidly blocked further cell death. Formation of quinolone-gyrase-DNA complexes, observed as a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-dependent drop in cell lysate viscosity, occurred during aerobic and anaerobic growth and in the presence and in the absence of chloramphenicol. However, lethal chromosome fragmentation, detected as a drop in viscosity in the absence of SDS, occurred with nalidixic acid treatment only under aerobic conditions in the absence of chloramphenicol. With PD161144, chromosome fragmentation was detected when the cells were grown aerobically and anaerobically and in the presence and in the absence of chloramphenicol. Thus, all quinolones tested appear to form reversible bacteriostatic complexes containing broken DNA during aerobic growth, during anaerobic growth, and when protein synthesis is blocked; however, the ability to fragment chromosomes and to rapidly kill cells under these conditions depends on quinolone structure.     

Identification of a dithiazoline inhibitor of Escherichia coli L,D-carboxypeptidase A

The enzyme L,D-carboxypeptidase A is involved in the recycling of bacterial peptidoglycan and is essential in Escherichia coli during stationary phase. By high-throughput screening, we have identified a dithiazoline inhibitor of the enzyme with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 3 microM. The inhibitor appeared to cause lysis of E. coli during stationary phase, behavior that is similar to a previously described deletion mutant of L,D-carboxypeptidase A (M. F. Templin, A. Ursinus, and J.-V. Holtje, EMBO J. 18:4108-4117, 1999). As much as a one-log drop in CFU in stationary phase was observed upon treatment of E. coli with the inhibitor, and the amount of intracellular tetrapeptide substrate increased by approximately 33%, consistent with inhibition of the enzyme within bacterial cells. Stationary-phase targets such as L,D-carboxypeptidase A are largely underrepresented as targets of the antibiotic armamentarium but provide potential opportunities to interfere with bacterial growth and persistence.     

Effect of early post-resuscitation endotoxemia on the myocardial function

The impact made by serum (which was obtained in 30 minutes after resuscitation) on the cardiovascular system was studied in experiments with the total body as well as with isolated and isovolumetrically contracting hearts of white outbred male rats. A 5-minute clinical death was provoked by a severe blood loss. The "toxic" serum, when administered to the intact animals with the macrophage system blocked by trypan blue, was found to reduce the stroke and minute hearts volumes and to increase the general resistance of peripheral vessels. Lower force and velocity indices of the myocardium contractility, a higher consumption of glucose by the heart per a unit of a performed function, disassociation of the oxidation phosphorylation, activation of anaerobic glycolysis and increased discharges of cardiachystiocyte, lactate, pyruvate and of enzymes of different ultrasound localizations were detected in perfusion of the hearts isolated by Krebs-Henzelight solution containing the "toxic" serum.