Targeting PGE2 receptor subtypes rather than cyclooxygenases: a bridge over troubled water?

Prostaglandins (PG) are synthesized by the sequential action of phosholipases, cyclooxygenases (COX)-1 and COX-2, and specific terminal synthases, and exert their diverse biological effects through several membrane receptors. In particular, PGE2 is involved in many normal and pathological pathways that are mediated by four different E prostanoid receptors (EP1-4). Selective COX-2 inhibitors (Coxibs) have analgesic and antipyretic effects that are indistinguishable from those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but some possess hazardous cardiovascular side effects. Recent results indicate that EP1 and EP4 antagonists might prove useful for inhibiting the unwanted actions of COX-2. Has the time come for research to examine earnestly the selective antagonism of EP subtypes rather than further the development of direct COX-2 inhibitors?     

Coupling between cyclooxygenases and prostaglandin F2α synthase: Detection of an inducible,glutathione-activated,membrane-bound prostaglandin F2α-synthetic activity

Distinct functional coupling between cyclooxygenases (COXs) and specific terminal prostanoid synthases leads to phase-specific production of particular prostaglandins (PGs). In this study, we examined the coupling between COX isozymes and PGF synthase (PGFS). Co-transfection of COXs with PGFS-I belonging to the aldo-keto reductase family into HEK293 cells resulted in increased production of PGF_2α only when a high concentration of exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) was supplied. However, this enzyme failed to produce PGF_2α from endogenous AA, even though significant increase in PGF_2α production occurred in cells transfected with COX-2 alone. This poor COX/PGFS-I coupling was likely to arise from their distinct subcellular localization. Measurement of PGF_2α-synthetic enzyme activity in homogenates of several cells revealed another type of PGFS activity that was membrane-bound, glutathione (GSH)-activated, and stimulus-inducible. In vivo, membrane-bound PGFS activity was elevated in the lung of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. Taken together, our results suggest the presence of a novel, membrane-associated form of PGFS that is stimulus-inducible and is likely to be preferentially coupled with COX-2.     

Microsomal monooxygenase in apoptosis: another target for cytochrome c signaling?

The main function of eukaryotic microsomal monooxygenase (MMO) is thought to be the oxygenation of xenobiotics and hydrophobic endogenous substrates. However, there are important inconsistencies in the concept that the biological role of MMO is limited to the catalysis of these reactions. It is probable that MMO is also a regulated generator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is involved in both the initiation and execution of apoptosis. Additional support for this hypothesis came with the discovery of a role for cytochrome c (cyt c) in apoptotic signaling. This article introduces the theory that microsomal cytochrome b(5), which modulates the production of ROS in MMO, is among the principal interacting targets of cyt c. The role of this interaction in the initiation of apoptosis is discussed.     

Rabbit plasma metabolomic analysis of Nitroproston®: a multi target natural prostaglandin based-drug

Introduction

Nitroproston® is a novel multi-target drug bearing natural prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and nitric oxide (NO)-donating fragments for treatment of inflammatory and obstructive diseases (i.e., asthma and obstructive bronchitis).

Objectives

To investigate the effects of Nitroproston® administration on plasma metabolomics in vivo.

Methods

Experimental in vivo study randomly assigning the target drug (treatment group) or a saline solution without the drug (vehicle control group) to 12 rabbits (n?=?6 in each group). Untargeted (5880 initial features; 1869 negative–4011 positive ion peaks; UPLC–IT–TOF/MS) and 84 targeted moieties (Nitroproston® related metabolites, prostaglandins, steroids, purines, pyrimidines and amino acids; HPLC–QQQ–MS/MS) were measured from plasma at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 32 and 60 min after administration.

Results

PGE₂, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE₂, PGB₂, 1,3-GDN and 15-keto-PGE₂ increased in the treatment group. Steroids (i.e., cortisone, progesterone), organic acids, 3-oxododecanoic acid, nicotinate d-ribonucleoside, thymidine, the amino acids serine and aspartate, and derivatives pyridinoline, aminoadipic acid and uric acid increased (p?<?0.05 AUCROC curve?>?0.75) after treatment. Purines (i.e., xanthine, guanine, guanosine), bile acids, acylcarnitines and the amino acids l-tryptophan and l-phenylalanine were decreased. Nitroproston® impacted steroidogenesis, purine metabolism and ammonia recycling pathways, among others.

Conclusion

Nitroproston®, a multi action novel drug based on natural prostaglandins, altered metabolites (i.e., guanine, adenine, cortisol, cortisone and aspartate) involved in purine metabolism, urea and ammonia biological cycles, steroidogenesis, among other pathways. Suggested mechanisms of action, metabolic pathway interconnections and useful information to further understand the metabolic effects of prostaglandin administration are presented.

     

Glycogen synthase: towards a minimum catalytic unit?

Classically, alpha-1,4-glucan synthases have been divided into two families, animal/fungal glycogen synthases (GS) and bacterial/plant starch synthases (G(S)S), according to differences in sequence, sugar donor specificity and regulatory mechanisms. Detailed sequence analysis, predicted secondary structure comparison and threading analysis show that these two families are structurally related and that some domains of GSs were acquired to meet regulatory requirements. Archaeal G(S)S present structural and functional features that are conserved in one, the other or both families. Therefore, they are the link between GS and G(S)S and harbor the minimal sequence and structural features that constitute the minimum catalytic unit of the alpha-1,4-glucan synthase superfamily.     

Butyrolactone: More than a Kinase Inhibitor?

No Abstract Available

Key Words:

Butryolactone, Kinase inhibitor, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21, p53     

Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis: a target for cancer therapy?

Recent advances in understanding the biology of lymphangiogenesis, the new growth of lymphatic vessels, have cast new light on the molecular basis of metastasis to regional lymph nodes. The receptor tyrosine kinase VEGFR-3 is virtually exclusively expressed on lymphatic but not blood endothelium in the adult, and activation of VEGFR-3 by its ligands VEGF-C and VEGF-D is sufficient to induce lymphangiogenesis. Correlative studies with human tumors and functional studies using animal tumor models show that increased levels of VEGF-C or VEGF-D in tumors lead to enhanced numbers of lymphatic vessels in the vicinity of tumors, which in turn promotes metastasis to regional lymph nodes by providing a greater number of entry sites into the lymphatic system for invading tumor cells. These findings have prompted studies to investigate whether inhibitors of VEGFR-3 activation might represent novel therapeutic agents for the suppression of metastasis. However, a number of points regarding the therapeutic potential of anti-lymphangiogenic treatments in the context of cancer remain to be addressed. The spectrum and relative importance of molecules that induce lymphangiogenesis and the regulation of their expression during tumor progression, the reversibility of tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis, and possible side-effects of anti-lymphangiogenesis-based therapies all need to be investigated. Most importantly, the extent to which lymph node metastases contribute to the formation of metastases in other organs remains to be elucidated. These aspects are the focus of this review, and their investigation should serve as a roadmap to possible translational application.     

Is urinary flow rate a major regulator of prostaglandin E excretion in man?

Urinary PGE₂ excretion is enhanced in several polyuric states in man suggesting that PGE₂ synthesis could be a mediator of diuresis. To explore the alternate hypothesis that polyuria is the cause of the increased PGE₂ excretion, we increased urine flow rate by intravenous administration of dextrose and water with different magnesium, calcium and potassium solutions in four normal males. Urinary PGE excretion rose in parallel with urine volume (r = 0.65 p < 0.01) independently of the electrolyte solution. To determine the effects of chronic alterations in water balance in 5 female subjects, we sequentially regulated oral water intake to induce 1, 2, 4 and 8 liters of urine volume/day. During low (40 mEq) sodium diets, PGE increased from 540 ± 50 to 4880 ± 1240 ng/d with increasing urinary volume (r = 0.81, p < 7.01). Similarly, for 200 mEq sodium intake PGE paralleled urinary volume (from 630 ± 100 to 4740 ± 800 ng/d, r = 0.61, p <0.01). In vitro sample dilution studies demonstrated no interference from method blank, and the addition of thin layer chromatography prior to Sephadex chromatography failed to alter assay measurements. We conclude that extreme increases in urinary flow rate may directly enhance PGE excretion in man.     

ITS1: a DNA barcode better than ITS2 in eukaryotes?

A DNA barcode is a short piece of DNA sequence used for species determination and discovery. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS/ITS2) region has been proposed as the standard DNA barcode for fungi and seed plants and has been widely used in DNA barcoding analyses for other biological groups, for example algae, protists and animals. The ITS region consists of both ITS1 and ITS2 regions. Here, a large‐scale meta‐analysis was carried out to compare ITS1 and ITS2 from three aspects: PCR amplification, DNA sequencing and species discrimination, in terms of the presence of DNA barcoding gaps, species discrimination efficiency, sequence length distribution, GC content distribution and primer universality. In total, 85 345 sequence pairs in 10 major groups of eukaryotes, including ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, liverworts, mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, monocotyledons, eudicotyledons, insects and fishes, covering 611 families, 3694 genera, and 19 060 species, were analysed. Using similarity‐based methods, we calculated species discrimination efficiencies for ITS1 and ITS2 in all major groups, families and genera. Using Fisher's exact test, we found that ITS1 has significantly higher efficiencies than ITS2 in 17 of the 47 families and 20 of the 49 genera, which are sample‐rich. By in silico PCR amplification evaluation, primer universality of the extensively applied ITS1 primers was found superior to that of ITS2 primers. Additionally, shorter length of amplification product and lower GC content was discovered to be two other advantages of ITS1 for sequencing. In summary, ITS1 represents a better DNA barcode than ITS2 for eukaryotic species.     

Antarctic reptant decapods: more than a myth?

The impoverished Antarctic decapod fauna is one of the most conspicuous biodiversity phenomena in polar science. Although physiological and ecological approaches have tried to explain the reason for the low decapod biodiversity pattern in the Southern Ocean, the complexity of this problem is still not completely understood. The scant records of crabs south of the Polar Front were always considered as exceptional, and have mostly been ignored by marine biologists world-wide, creating one of the most dogmatic paradigms in polar science. We herein review the record of both adults and larvae of reptants from the Southern Ocean. At present, several species of only lithodid crabs maintain considerable adult populations in circum-Antarctic waters, although they remain absent from the high-Antarctic shelves.