Release of calcium from membranes and its relation to phagocytotic metabolic changes: A fluorescence study on leukocytes loaded with chlortetracycline

A fluorescent probe chlortetracycline was used to monitor the mobilization of intracellular divalent cations of leukocytes. When the chlortetracycline-loaded cells were stimulated with cytochalasin D or $\text{E. coli}$, a fluorescence change ascribable to the release of calcium from the intracellular hydrophobic environment was observed. The dose-response curve of the fluorescence change and that of the superoxide release of the cells were very similar. An intracellular calcium antagonist 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate inhibited both metabolic and fluorescence changes in parallel. A supposition that an intracellular mobilization of calcium ions is stimulating the metabolic change was supported.     

Selenium binding proteins in rat tissues

The 100,000 × g extracts of rat intestine and colon were incubated $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ with Na₂[⁷⁵Se]O₃. Chromatography of this material on a Sephadex G-100 column produced three radioactive peaks corresponding to molecular weights of 17,000, 68,000 and > 90,000. The 17,000 peak corresponded to a protein which sedimented in the 2S region of a 5–20% ($\text{w}\text{v}$) linear sucrose density gradient. Selenium binding to this protein was specific, stable and sensitive to thiol inhibitors such as p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (1 mM) and iodoacetamide (2 mM). Chromatography of rat serum - [⁷⁵Se] complex on Sephadex G-100 yielded only two radioactive peaks that corresponded to molecular weights of 68,000 and > 90,000. The 2S selenium binding protein of intestine and colon may mediate the biological functions of selenium in those tissues.     

Inhibitory Effect of 8-(N,N-Diethylamino)octyl-3, 4, 5-Trimethoxybenzoate Hydrochloride (TMB-8) on Germination of Bacillus cereus T Spores

Effect of 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3, 4, 5 - trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), a calcium antagonist, on germination of Bacillus cereus T spores induced by L -alanine and inosine was investigated. TMB-8 had no effect on the germination of heat-activated spores, whereas it inhibited that of nonactivated spores. The TMB-8 inhibitory effect was antagonized competitively by inosine, but not by L -alanine. Addition of Ca²⁺ reversed the inhibitory effect of TMB-8 in a dose-related fashion. Based on the results, a role of inosine and a site(s) for inhibitory action of TMB-8 in the process leading to the germination of nonactivated spores were discussed.     

The activation by Ca2+ of platelet phospholipase A2: Effects of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate and 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate

Thrombin-induced release of arachidonic acid from human platelet phosphatidylcholine is found to be more than 90% impaired by incubation of platelets with 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (Bt₂ cyclic AMP) or with 0.6 mM 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), an intracellular calcium antagonist. Incorporation of arachidonic acid into platelet phospholipids is not enhanced by Bt₂ cyclic AMP. The addition of external Ca²⁺ to thrombin-treated platelets incubated with Bt₂ cyclic AMP or TMB-8 does not counteract the observed inhibition. However, when divalent cation ionophore A23187 is employed as an activating agent, much less inhibition is produced by Bt₂ cyclic AMP or TMB-8. The inhibition which does result can be overcome by added Ca²⁺. Inhibition of arachidonic acid liberation by Bt₂ cyclic AMP, but not by TMB-8, can be overcome by high concentrations of A23187. When Mg²⁺ is substituted for Ca²⁺, ionophore-induced release of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine of inhibitor-free controls is depressed and inhibition by Bt₂ cyclic AMP is slightly enhanced. The phospholipase A₂ activity of platelet lysates is increased by the presence of added Ca²⁺, however, the addition of either A23187 or Bt₂ cyclic AMP is without effect on this activity. We suggest that Bt₂ cyclic AMP may promote a compartmentalization of Ca²⁺, thereby inhibiting phospholipase A activity. The compartmentalization may be overcome by ionophore. By contrast, TMB-8 may immobilize platelet Ca²⁺ stores in situ or restrict access of Ca²⁺ to phospholipase A in a manner not susceptible to reversal by high concentrations of ionophore.     

On the influence of hydrophobicity in the SIMS spectra of amino acids in glycerol matrix

The mechanism of action of tamoxifen, a triphenylethylene antiestrogen with antitumor activity, has not been fully established. In this paper, we present evidence that tamoxifen is an antagonist of calmodulin, a major cellular calcium receptor and calcium dependent regulator of many cellular processes. Our data showed that tamoxifen inhibited the activation of phosphodiesterase by calmodulin. This inhibition could be overcome by an increase in calmodulin concentration. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that tamoxifen is a competitive inhibitor of calmodulin in the activation of this enzyme. It could be speculated that the antagonism of calmodulin by tamoxifen may be one of the mechanisms responsible for its pharmacological actions.     

Serum, bradykinin and vasopressin stimulate release of inositol phosphates from human fibroblasts

The mitogens serum, vasopressin and bradykinin stimulate a significant rise in the inositol phosphate content of cultured human fibroblasts within 10 seconds, while serum- and bradykinin-stimulated arachidonic acid release does not occur until after 30 seconds. The release of inositol phosphates is not secondary to a rise in Ca activity since the Ca ionophore ionomycin does not stimulate release of inositol phosphates. Moreover, we show that phospholipase C in human fibroblasts is activated by these mitogens at resting Ca levels since TMB-8, which blocks the mitogen-induced rise in Ca activity, does not affect the serum-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates.     

The activation by Ca2+ of platelet phospholipase A2. Effects of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate and 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate.

Thrombin-induced release of arachidonic acid from human platelet phosphatidylcholine is found to be more than 90% impaired by incubation of platelets with 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (Bt2 cyclic AMP) or with 0.6 mM 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), an intracellular calcium antagonist. Incorporation of arachidonic acid into platelet phospholipids is not enhanced by Bt2 cyclic AMP. The addition of external Ca2+ to thrombin-treated platelets incubated with Bt2 cyclic AMP or TMB-8 does not counteract the observed inhibition. However, when divalent cation ionophore A23187 is employed as an activating agent, much less inhibition is produced by Bt2 cyclic AMP or TMB-8. The inhibition which does result can be overcome by added Ca2+. Inhibition of arachidonic acid liberation by Bt2 cyclic AMP, but not by TMB-8, can be overcome by high concentrations of A23187. When Mg2+ is substituted for Ca2+, ionophore-induced release of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine of inhibitor-free controls is depressed and inhibition by Bt2 cyclic AMP is slightly enhanced. The phospholipase A2 activity of platelet lysates is increased by the presence of added Ca2+, however, the addition of either A23187 or Bt2 cyclic AMP is without effect on this activity. We suggest that Bt2 cyclic AMP may promote a compartmentalization of Ca2+, thereby inhibiting phospholipase A activity. The compartmentalization may be overcome by ionophore. By contrast, TMB-8 may immobilize platelet Ca2+ stores in situ or restrict access of Ca2+ to phospholipase A in a manner not susceptible to reversal by high concentrations of ionophore.     

Enhancement of chemiluminescence of the neutrophils by low concentrations of trifluoperazine

One to 10 μM trifluoperazine was found to potentiate luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of neutrophils induced by n-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenyalanine. It did not potentiate chemiluminescence induced by A23187 or by phobor myristate acetate. Low concentrations of another calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, an intracellular Ca⁺⁺ antagonist 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, and a local anesthetic dibucaine, were found to possess similar activity. It is suggested that trifluoperazine potentiates chemiluminescence by acting on certain cellular processes that follow after stimulation by n-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine, but not by A23187 or by phorbor myristate acetate, and that this effect may be calmodulin-independent.     

Identification of leukotriene D4 receptor binding sites in guinea pig lung homogenates using [3H]leukotriene D4

We have characterized [3H]leukotriene D4 binding to guinea pig lung homogenates. Both biphasic dissociation kinetics and curvilinear Scatchard plots indicated the presence of [3H]leukotriene high and low affinity states of the binding sites. The rank order of potency for the competition study was leukotriene C4 = leukotriene D4 greater than leukotriene E4 much greater than arachidonic acid, and for their contractile effect on lung strips was leukotriene C4 = leukotriene D4 = leukotriene E4 much greater than arachidonic acid. FPL-55712 was the only other agent tested that inhibited binding. These results suggest that binding of [3H]leukotriene D4 to the homogenate is consistent with its binding to specific leukotriene D4 receptor sites.     

Action of TMB-8 (8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate) on cytoplasmic free calcium in adrenal glomerulosa cell

To clarify the action of 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) on cellular calcium handling, changes in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) were studied in adrenal glomerulosa cell with a calcium-sensitive photoprotein, aequorin. Results of our previous study demonstrate that 100 microM TMB-8 almost completely blocks aldosterone response to angiotensin II (Biochem. J. 232 (1985) 87-92). At 50 or 100 microM, TMB-8 decreased basal [Ca2+]c significantly; however, these doses of TMB-8 had little effect on an angiotensin-induced increase in [Ca2+]c. When angiotensin-induced calcium release from an intracellular pool(s) was assessed by measuring changes in [Ca2+]c in the presence of 1 microM extracellular Ca2+, 100 microM TMB-8 had little inhibitory effect on angiotensin-induced calcium release. A higher dose of TMB-8 (250 microM) slightly inhibited calcium release. Additionally, TMB-8 did not affect exogenous arachidonic acid-induced calcium release. In contrast, 50 microM TMB-8 markedly inhibited 8 mM potassium-induced increase in [Ca2+]c. These results indicate that a major action of TMB-8 on cellular calcium is an inhibition of calcium influx but not of calcium release. We suggest that TMB-8 should not be used as an 'inhibitor of calcium release'.     

Inhibition of (H+ + K+)-ATPase and H+ accumulation in hog gastric membranes by trifluoperazine, verapamil and 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate

The mechanism of gastric antisecretory action for trifluoperazine, verapamil and 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) has been studied utilizing isolated hog gastric membranes enriched with (H+ + K+)-ATPase. The drugs inhibited the gastric ATPase due to their apparent competition with K+ for the luminal high-affinity K+-site of the ATPase. The dose to inhibit 50% (ID50) of the ATPase in the membranes rendered freely permeable to K+ (20 mM) was 50 microM for trifluoperazine and 1.5 mM for verapamil and TMB-8. In intact hog gastric membranes which develop a pH gradient in the presence of valinomycin, ATP and KCl, however, trifluoperazine at 4 microM, verapamil and TMB-8 at 15 microM inhibited 40 and 30% of the valinomycin-stimulated ATPase activity, respectively, and also blocked the ionophore-dependent intravesicular acidification as measured by aminopyrine accumulation. The enhanced potency of the drugs to inhibit the ATPase in the intact membrane vesicles may be attributed to the accumulation of the drugs as a weak base within the vesicles, where the luminal K+-site of the ATPase is accessible. Calmodulin and Ca2+ had no effect on the extent of H+-accumulation as measured by aminopyrine accumulation in the membrane vesicles which were prepared in the presence of 1 mM EGTA. Since the drugs showed similar potency in interfering with H+ movements either in the membrane vesicles or isolated rabbit gastric glands stimulated by dibutyryl cAMP, it is reasonable to suggest the inhibitory effect of the drugs on (H+ + K+)-ATPase as a primary cause for such interferences in both cases. A trifluoperazine analog and other lipophilic amine drugs similarly inhibited (H+ + K+)-ATPase and H+ accumulation in the membrane vesicles or in the glands. We have concluded that a tertiary amine, the only common functional group among these drugs, is primarily responsible for their ability to interact with the high-affinity K+ site of the gastric ATPase.     

Phorbol myristate acetate-induced release of granule enzymes from human neutrophils: inhibition by the calcium antagonist, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated the extracellular release of the granule-associated enzyme lysozyme from human neutrophils. The extrusion of lysozyme was not accompanied by the release of β-glucuronidase or the cytosol enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. A time dependent PMA-induced release of lysozyme occurred in the absence of extracellular calcium and when neutrophils were preincubated with EGTA. 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), an antagonist of intracellular calcium, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of lysozyme release from neutrophils exposed to PMA in a calcium-free medium. This effect of TMB-8 could be reversed by the addition of calcium to the extracellular medium. These studies indicate that TMB-8 represents a valuable pharmacologic tool used to define the dependence of a secretagogue such as PMA on intracellular as opposed to extracellular calcium.     

A Pitfall of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) Assay due to Evaporation in wells on the Edge of a 96 well Plate

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) calorimetric assay is replacing the traditional 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as a fast, one-step assay of cell viability. We have observed that evaporation of the outer wells of a 96 well plate increases the absorbancy by 52% compared to the inner wells. Filling the outer 2 rows of wells with media and replacement of the media prior to addition of the MTS reagent will, however, correct this inaccuracy.     

Inhibition of cyclic GMP formation and aggregation in Dictyostelium by the intracellular Ca2+ antagonist TMB-8

Aggregation in Dictyostelium discoideum was shown in previous studies employing EGTA to require Ca2+, but the intra- or extracellular site of action of this ion and its role in chemotaxis were not determined [1]. In this investigation we show that the intracellular Ca2+ immobilising agent TMB-8 does not affect binding of the signalling nucleotide, cAMP, to the cell surface receptors but abolishes the rapid accumulation of intracellular cGMP and subsequent chemotactic aggregation. We infer that movement of Ca2+ from membrane-bound stores is triggered by binding of cAMP to the cell-surface receptor and that this plays a primary role in stimulating cGMP formation and chemotaxis.     

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) causes Akt phosphorylation and morphological changes in intracellular organellae in cultured rat astrocytes

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) is widely used for cell viability and cytotoxicity assays, but cell biological effects of MTT itself have not been investigated. In this paper we show that MTT induces a morphological change in an intracellular membranous compartment labeled with anti-Rab5 antibody, dissociation of early endosomal auto-antigen (EEA1) from the membrane fraction, and phosphorylation of Akt probably through a phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase [PI(3)K] pathway in cultured rat astrocytes. These findings suggest that MTT affects cellular functions and conditions to some extent, and such effects of MTT may cause some discrepancies of measurement of cell viability using MTT assay and other assays. That is, the effects of MTT on cells could influence the results of cell viability assay. Moreover, MTT or other tetrazolium salts could be used as interesting activators of Akt to investigate the mechanism by which Akt or PI(3)K is activated.     

Effect of the intracellular Ca+2 antagonist TMB-8 on serum-stimulated Na+ influx in human fibroblasts

The effects of the intracellular Ca⁺² antagonist TMB-8 on the amiloride-sensitive Na⁺ influx pathway in human fibroblasts was investigated. It was found that TMB-8 inhibits serum- or growth factor-stimulated Na⁺ influx in a dose dependent fashion with a Ki value = 15 μM. A23187-stimulated Na⁺ influx on the other hand, was not inhibited by TMB-8. Furthermore, serum-stimulated Na⁺ influx could also be blocked by the calmodulin antagonist W-13. These results suggest that serum- or growth factor-stimulated Na⁺ influx is associated with an elevation of cytosolic free Ca⁺² levels, which then combine with calmodulin to activate the amiloride-sensitive Na⁺ influx pathway.     

Photodesmosine,an isomer of desmosine obtained by photolysis of this amino acid in ultraviolet light

Desmosine and isodesmosine are two isomers representing the main cross-links of elastin. We describe a new isomer, photodesmosine, which is produced by the photolysis of desmosine at 254 nm. The mechanism of this photolysis is described and is shown to consist of two competing paths. After opening of the pyridium ring to give a tetrasubstituted aminoketone, this compound can either be hydrolysed to give lysine and a trisubstituted analogue of glutaconic aldehyde or undergo a recyclisation and rearomatisation to give a pyridium compound substituted in positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. An understanding of this mechanism is important in order to use photolysis as a specific method to break elastin cross-links. Although only desmosine and isodesmosine have been reported in purified elastin, the chromatographic properties of photodesmosine suggests that if other natural isomers exist in this protein they could be eluted from an ion-exchange resin at much earlier times than those observed in the case of the two already described cross-links.     

Effects of extracellular Ca2+ and the intracellular Ca2+ antagonist 8-(N,N-diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate on rabbit platelet conversion of arachidonic acid into thromboxane

The regulatory role of Ca²⁺ on the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) into thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) was examined in washed rabbit platelets, whose secretoary processes are known to have requirements for extracellular CA²⁺. Varying the extracellular free Ca²⁺ [Ca_f²⁺] concentration from < 10^?8 to 10^?3 M had no significant effect on the synthesis of immunoreactive TXB₂ by rabbit platelets incubated with 1–4 μM AA. On the other hand, 8-(N,N-diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5- trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), a putative antagonist of intracellular Ca²⁺ movement, inhibited AA-stimulated synthesis of TXB₂ in a concentration dependent manner--an effect which could be partially overcome by increasing the AA concentration. The TMB-8 inhibition could not be reversed by increasing the [Ca²⁺_f]. Studies examining platelet metabolism of ¹⁴C-AA and ¹⁴C-prostaglandin H₂ demonstrated that TMB-8 inhibited platelet cyclooxygenase, but not thromboxane synthetase. These studies demonstrate the absence of a requirement for [Ca²⁺_f] but suggest the presence of a TMB-8 sensitive intracellular Ca²⁺ pool in the rabbit platelet synthesis of TXB₂ from AA.     

Inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated Multidrug Resistance (MDR) by N,N-bis(cyclohexanol)amine aryl esters: further restriction of molecular flexibility maintains high potency and efficacy

Conformational modulation of the aryl portion of a set of N,N-bis(cyclohexanol)amine aryl esters (1a-d) that are potent Pgp-dependent MDR inhibitors has been performed. Toward this end the trans-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylic acid present in set 1 was substituted with 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propanoic and 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propiolic moieties to give sets 2 and 3, respectively. While the introduction of 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propanoic moiety resulted in a definite drop in potency and efficacy, esterification with 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propiolic acid gave four isomers (3a-d) that maintain high potency and possess optimal efficacy. These results are discussed in terms of conformational flexibility of the different sets of compounds.     

Inhibition of calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by flunarizine, a calcium-entry blocker

It has been reported that flunarizine, classified as calcium entry-blockers, is a potent brain protective drug without any heart depressant effect, contrasting with other drugs in this group. This paper presents evidence that through a competitive antagonism against calmodulin, a major intracellular calcium receptor, flunarizine inhibits the calcium X calmodulin-activated phosphodiesterase activity of bovine brain, but not of heart, whereas other calcium-entry blockers and calmodulin antagonists inhibit to the same extent, the activation of the enzyme from the two sources. It could be suggested that some of pharmacological effects by flunarizine and its differences from other calcium-entry blockers may be explained by its interaction with calmodulin.