Pentoxifylline inhibits the proliferation and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of cultured fibroblasts derived from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and pretibial myxoedema

1993 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Cheng Chang ◽  
Tien-Chun Chang ◽  
Shine CS Kao ◽  
Yea-Fhey Kuo ◽  
Li-Fei Chien

Excessive amounts of glycosaminoglycans accumulate in the extraocular muscles of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and in the affected skin of patients with pretibial myxoedema. It is widely accepted that fibroblasts are the sources of glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Pentoxifylline, an analogue of the methylxanthine theobromine, inhibits the proliferation and certain biosynthetic activities of fibroblasts derived from normal human skin and from skin of patients with some fibrotic disorders. Our objective was to determine whether pentoxifylline has similar effects on fibroblasts derived from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and pretibial myxoedema and could serve as a candidate for the treatment of these manifestations. Fibroblasts from the extraocular muscles of two patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and normal extraocular muscles of two subjects with strabismus, as well as the affected skin of two patients with pretibial myxoedema were cultured in vitro in the presence and absence of pentoxifylline to assay its effect on the proliferation of fibroblasts and their production of glycosaminoglycans. In subconfluent fibroblast cultures, pentoxifylline treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of serum-driven fibroblast proliferation. In confluent fibroblast cultures both in the presence and absence of serum, exposure to pentoxifylline similarly resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of glycosaminoglycan synthesis for all these different kinds of fibroblasts. These findings may form the rationale for a clinical trial using pentoxifylline for the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy and pretibial myxoedema.

1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 1443-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
H A Thompson ◽  
B S Spooner

The proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans synthesized by embryonic mouse salivary glands during normal morphogenesis and in the presence of beta-xyloside, an inhibitor of branching morphogenesis, have been partially characterized. Control and rho-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside-treated salivary rudiments synthesize proteoglycans that are qualitatively similar, based on mobility on Sepharose CL-4B under dissociative conditions and glycosaminoglycan composition. However, beta-xyloside inhibits total proteoglycan-associated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by 50%, and also stimulates synthesis of large amounts of free chondroitin (dermatan) sulfate. This free glycosaminoglycan accounts for the threefold stimulation of total glycosaminoglycan synthesis in beta-xyloside-treated cultures. Several observations suggest that the disruption of proteoglycan synthesis rather than the presence of large amounts of free glycosaminoglycan is responsible for the inhibition of branching morphogenesis. (a) We have been unable to inhibit branching activity by adding large amounts of chondroitin (dermatan) sulfate, extracted from beta-xyloside-treated cultures, to the medium of salivary rudiments undergoing morphogenesis. (b) In the range of 0.1-0.4 mM beta-xyloside, the dose-dependent inhibition of branching morphogenesis is directly correlated with the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis. The stimulation of free glycosaminoglycan synthesis is independent of dose in this range, since stimulation is maximal even at the lowest concentration used, 0.1 mM. The data strongly suggest that the inhibition of branching morphogenesis is caused by the disruption of proteoglycan synthesis in beta-xyloside-treated salivary glands.


1991 ◽  
Vol 115 (5) ◽  
pp. 1463-1473 ◽  
Author(s):  
R C Spiro ◽  
H H Freeze ◽  
D Sampath ◽  
J A Garcia

Brefeldin A has dramatic, well-documented, effects on the structural and functional organization of the Golgi complex. We have examined the effects of brefeldin A (BFA) on the Golgi-localized synthesis and addition of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan carbohydrate side chains. BFA caused a dose-dependent inhibition of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan elongation and sulfation onto the core proteins of the melanoma-associated proteoglycan and the major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain. In the presence of BFA, the melanoma proteoglycan core protein was retained in the ER but still acquired complex, sialylated, N-linked oligosaccharides, as measured by digestion with endoglycosidase H and neuraminidase. The initiation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis was not affected by BFA, as shown by the incorporation of [6-3H]galactose into a protein-carbohydrate linkage region that was sensitive to beta-elimination. The ability of cells to use an exogenous acceptor, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside, to elongate and sulfate core protein-free glycosaminoglycans, was completely inhibited by BFA. The effects of BFA were completely reversible in the absence of new protein synthesis. These experiments indicate that BFA effectively uncouples chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan synthesis by segregating initiation reactions from elongation and sulfation events. Our findings support the proposal that glycosaminoglycan elongation and sulfation reactions are associated with the trans-Golgi network, a BFA-resistant, Golgi subcompartment.


Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Jewgenow ◽  
M Rohleder ◽  
I Wegner

Despite many efforts, the control of reproduction in feral cat populations is still a problem in urban regions around the world. Immunocontraception is a promising approach; thus the present study examined the suitability of the widely used pig zona pellucida proteins (pZP) for contraception in feral domestic cats. Purified zona pellucida proteins obtained from pig and cat ovaries were used to produce highly specific antisera in rabbits. Antibodies against pZP raised in rabbits or lions were not effective inhibitors of either in vitro sperm binding (cat spermatozoa to cat oocytes) or in vitro fertilization in cats, whereas antibodies against feline zona pellucida proteins (fZP) raised in rabbits showed a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro fertilization. Immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and immunohistology of ovaries confirmed these results, showing crossreactivity of anti-fZP sera to fZP and to a lesser extent to pZP, but no interaction of anti-pZP sera with fZP. It is concluded that cat and pig zonae pellucidae express a very small number of shared antigenic determinants, making the use of pZP vaccine in cats questionable. A contraceptive vaccine based on feline zona pellucida determinants will be a better choice for the control of reproduction in feral cats if immunogenity can be achieved.


Author(s):  
Putthiporn Khongkaew ◽  
Phanphen Wattanaarsakit ◽  
Konstantinos I. Papadopoulos ◽  
Watcharaphong Chaemsawang

Background: Cancer is a noncommunicable disease with increasing incidence and mortality rates both worldwide and in Thailand. Its apparent lack of effective treatments is posing challenging public health issues. Introduction: Encouraging research results indicating probable anti-cancer properties of the Delonix regia flower extract (DRE) have prompted us to evaluate the feasibility of developing a type of product for future cancer prevention or treatment. Methods and Results: In the present report, using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), we demonstrate in the DRE, the presence of high concentrations of three identifiable flavonoids, namely rutin 4.15±0.30 % w/w, isoquercitrin 3.04±0.02 %w/w, and myricetin 2.61±0.01 % w/w respectively while the IC50 of DPPH and ABTS assay antioxidation activity was 66.88±6.30 µg/ml and 53.65±7.24 µg/ml respectively. Discussion: Our cancer cell line studies using the MTT assay demonstrated DREs potent and dose dependent inhibition of murine leukemia cell line (P-388: 35.28±4.07% of cell viability remaining), as well as of human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human cervical carcinoma (HeLa), human oral cavity carcinoma (KB), and human colon carcinoma (HT-29) cell lines in that order of magnitude. Conclusion: Three identifiable flavonoids (rutin, isoquercitrin and myricetin) with high antioxidation activity and potent and dose dependent inhibition of murine leukemia cell line and five other cancer cell lines were documented in the DRE. The extract’s lack of cytotoxicity in 3 normal cell lines is a rare advantage not usually seen in current antineoplastic agents. Yet another challenge of the DRE was its low dissolution rate and long-term storage stability, issues to be resolved before a future product can be formulated.


Author(s):  
Virginia Fuochi ◽  
Massimo Caruso ◽  
Rosalia Emma ◽  
Aldo Stivala ◽  
Riccardo Polosa ◽  
...  

Background: The key ingredients of e-cigarettes liquid are commonly propane-1,2-diol (also called propylene glycol) and propane-1,2,3-triol (vegetal glycerol) and their antimicrobial effects are already established. The nicotine and flavors which are often present in e-liquids can interfere with the growth of some microorganisms. Objective: The effect of the combining these elements in e-liquids is unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible effects of these liquids on bacterial growth in the presence or absence of nicotine and flavors. Methods: Susceptibilities of pathogenic strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Sarcina lutea) were studied by means of a multidisciplinary approach. Cell viability and antioxidant assays were also evaluated. Results: All e-liquids investigated showed antibacterial activity against at least one pathogenic strain. A higher activity was correlated to the presence of flavors and nicotine. Discussion: In most cases the value of minimal bactericidal concentration is equal to the value of minimal inhibitory concentration showing that these substances have a bactericidal effect. This effect was observed in concentrations up to 6.25% v/v. Antioxidant activity was also correlated to presence of flavors. Over time, the viability assay in human epithelial lung A549 cells showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth. Conclusion: Our results have shown that flavors considerably enhance the antibacterial activity of propane-1,2-diol and propane-1,2,3-triol. This study provides important evidence that should be taken into consideration in further investigative approaches, to clarify the different sensitivity of the various bacterial species to e-liquids, including the respiratory microbiota, to highlight the possible role of flavors and nicotine.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 2867-2874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atteneri López-Arencibia ◽  
Daniel García-Velázquez ◽  
Carmen M. Martín-Navarro ◽  
Ines Sifaoui ◽  
María Reyes-Batlle ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThein vitroactivity of a novel group of compounds, hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives, against two species ofLeishmaniais described in this study. These compounds showed a significant dose-dependent inhibition effect on the proliferation of the parasites, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) ranging from 1.23 to 25.05 μM against the promastigote stage and 0.5 to 0.7 μM against intracellular amastigotes. Also, a cytotoxicity assay was carried out to in order to evaluate the possible toxic effects of these compounds. Moreover, different assays were performed to determine the type of cell death induced after incubation with these compounds. The obtained results highlight the potential use of hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives againstLeishmaniaspecies, and further studies should be undertaken to establish them as novel leishmanicidal therapeutic agents.


1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-181
Author(s):  
Peter S. Eriksson ◽  
Elisabeth Hansson ◽  
Lars Rönnbäck

The presence of μ-opioid receptors was demonstrated as effects of receptor stimulation on PGE1-induced cAMP accumulation in neuronal-enriched primary cultures from rat cerebral cortex. Morphine was used as a μ-receptor agonist. There was a dose-dependent inhibition of the PGE1-stimulated cAMP accumulation by morphine, blocked by the μ-receptor antagonist naloxone. These findings suggest that these neuronal cultures express μ-receptors, possibly connected to adenylate cyclase via an inhibitory Gi-protein. The probable use of functional μ-receptors in neurotoxicological tests is discussed.


1975 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. VANDEPUTTE-VAN MESSOM ◽  
G. PEETERS

SUMMARY During water diuresis in conscious goats, noradrenaline (NA), its antagonists phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol and also atropine were administered into the 3rd ventricle. The subsequent effects on water diuresis and on the excretion rates of Na+, K+ and Cl− were investigated. Infusion of NA into the 3rd ventricle induced a strong and significant antidiuretic response and a decrease in the Na+: K+ excretion ratio; these effects were dose-dependent. High doses of NA produced a significant increase in urinary K+ excretion. Similar results were observed after i.v. administration of arginine-vasopressin. Pretreatment with phentolamine injected into the 3rd ventricle produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the NA-induced antidiuretic effects. Phenoxybenzamine also blocked the response to NA but a dose-response relationship was not apparent. Atropine and propranolol did not block the response to NA.


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