Molecular pharmacology
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Molecular pharmacology · Jul 2005
Comparative StudyIn the rostral ventrolateral medulla, the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), but not HSP90, confers neuroprotection against fatal endotoxemia via augmentation of nitric-oxide synthase I (NOS I)/protein kinase G signaling pathway and inhibition of NOS II/peroxynitrite cascade.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) represent a group of highly conserved intracellular proteins that participate in protective adaptation against cellular stress. We evaluated the neuroprotective role of the 70-kDa HSP (HSP70) and the 90-kDa HSP (HSP90) at the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), the medullary origin of sympathetic vasomotor tone, during fatal endotoxemia. In Sprague-Dawley rats maintained under propofol anesthesia, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (30 mg/kg, i.v.) induced a decrease (phase I), followed by an increase (phase II; "pro-life" phase) and a secondary decrease (phase III; "pro-death" phase) in the power density of the vasomotor component of systemic arterial pressure spectrum, along with progressive hypotension or bradycardia. ⋯ The increase in HSP70 level was significantly blunted on pretreatment with microinjection of the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D or protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide into the bilateral RVLM. Functional blockade of HSP70 in the RVLM by an anti-HSP70 antiserum or prevention of synthesis by an antisense hsp70 oligonucleotide exacerbated mortality or potentiated the cardiovascular depression during experimental endotoxemia, alongside significantly reduced nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) I or protein kinase G (PKG) level or augmented NOS II or peroxynitrite level in the RVLM. We conclude that whereas HSP90 is ineffective, de novo synthesis of HSP70 in the RVLM may confer neuroprotection during fatal endotoxemia by preventing cardiovascular depression via enhancing the sympathoexcitatory NOS I/PKG signaling pathway and inhibiting the sympathoinhibitory NOS II/peroxynitrite cascade in the RVLM.
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Molecular pharmacology · May 2005
Comparative StudyThe general anesthetic isoflurane depresses synaptic vesicle exocytosis.
General anesthetics have marked effects on synaptic transmission, but the mechanisms of their presynaptic actions are unclear. We used quantitative laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy to analyze the effects of the volatile anesthetic isoflurane on synaptic vesicle cycling in cultured neonatal rat hippocampal neurons monitored using either transfection of a pH-sensitive form of green fluorescent protein fused to the luminal domain of VAMP (vesicle-associated membrane protein), (synapto-pHluorin) or vesicle loading with the fluorescent dye FM 1-43. Isoflurane reversibly inhibited action potential-evoked exocytosis over a range of concentrations, with little effect on vesicle pool size. ⋯ Depression of exocytosis was mimicked by a reduction in stimulus frequency, suggesting a reduction in action potential initiation, conduction, or coupling to Ca2+ channel activation. There was no evidence for a direct effect on endocytosis. The effects of isoflurane on synaptic transmission are thus caused primarily by inhibition of action potential-evoked synaptic vesicle exocytosis at a site upstream of Ca2+ entry and exocytosis, possibly as a result of Na+ channel blockade and/or K+ channel activation, with the possibility of lesser contributions from Ca2+ channel blockade and/or soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor-mediated vesicle fusion.
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Molecular pharmacology · Apr 2005
Cotreatment with suberanoylanilide hydroxamic acid and 17-allylamino 17-demethoxygeldanamycin synergistically induces apoptosis in Bcr-Abl+ Cells sensitive and resistant to STI571 (imatinib mesylate) in association with down-regulation of Bcr-Abl, abrogation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activity, and Bax conformational change.
Interactions between the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors suberanoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and sodium butyrate (SB) and the heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 antagonist 17-allylamino 17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) have been examined in Bcr-Abl(+) human leukemia cells (K562 and LAMA84), including those sensitive and resistant to STI571 (imatinib mesylate). Cotreatment with 17-AAG and SAHA or SB synergistically induced mitochondrial dysfunction (cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release), caspase-3 and -8 activation, apoptosis, and growth inhibition. Similar effects were observed in LAMA84 cells and K562 cells resistant to STI571, as well as in CD34(+) cells isolated from the bone marrows of three patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. ⋯ Cotreatment with 17-AAG and SAHA also induced down-regulation of Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, and B-Raf; up-regulation of Bak; cleavage of 14-3-3 proteins; and a profound conformational change in Bax accompanied by translocation to the membrane fraction. Moreover, ectopic expression of Bcl-2 attenuated cell death induced by this regimen, implicating mitochondrial injury in the lethality observed. Together, these findings raise the possibility that combining HDAC inhibitors with the Hsp90 antagonist 17-AAG may represent a novel strategy against Bcr-Abl(+) leukemias, including those resistant to STI571.
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Molecular pharmacology · Apr 2005
Nuclear factor-kappaB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides prevent acute lung injury in mice with cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis.
The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a key role in expression of many inflammatory genes responsible for the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced acute lung injury. We investigated whether the introduction of synthetic double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with consensus NF-kappaB sequence as transcription factor decoy can prevent acute lung injury with suppression of pulmonary expression of multiple genes involved in its pathological process in a cecal ligation and puncture septic mouse model. NF-kappaB decoy ODNs were introduced with the aid of the hemagglutinating virus of Japan-envelope vector method. ⋯ These changes were strongly eliminated by the introduction of NF-kappaB decoy but not of scrambled ODN. The effects of the iNOS inhibitor FR260330 on these histological and functional derangements compared unfavorably with those of NF-kappaB decoy ODN transfection. Our results suggest that ODN decoy, acting as in vivo competitor for the transcription factor's ability to bind to cognate recognition sequence, may represent an effective strategy in the treatment of septic acute lung injury.
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Mibefradil is a T-type Ca2+ channel antagonist with reported cross-reactivity with other classes of ion channels, including K+, Cl-, and Na+ channels. Using whole-cell voltage clamp, we examined mibefradil block of four Na+ channel isoforms expressed in human embryonic kidney cells: Nav1.5 (cardiac), Nav1.4 (skeletal muscle), Nav1.2 (brain), and Nav1.7 (peripheral nerve). Mibefradil blocked Nav1.5 in a use/frequency-dependent manner, indicating preferential binding to states visited during depolarization. ⋯ We also tested whether mibefradil interacted with slow-inactivated state(s). When selectively applied to channels after inducing slow inactivation with a 60-s pulse to -10 mV, mibefradil (1 microM) produced 45% fractional block in Nav1.5 and greater block (88%) in an isoform (Nav1.4) that slow-inactivates more completely. Our results suggest that mibefradil blocks Na+ channels in a state-dependent manner that does not depend on fast inactivation but probably involves interaction with one or more slow-inactivated state(s).