Pharmacological evaluation of 1-(carboxymethyl)-3,5-diphenyl-2-methylbenzene, a novel arylacetic acid with potential anti-inflammatory properties.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: 1-(Carboxymethyl)-3,5-diphenyl-2-methylbenzene (CDB), a novel arylacetic acid, was evaluated in vivo for its ability to inhibit acute and chronic inflammation as well as acute pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of CDB were evaluated using the following assays: 1) acute inflammation induced by the injection of carrageenan, bradykinin and serotonin into the subplantar region of the hind paw of rats; 2) chronic inflammation produced by the injection of Mycobacterium butyricum into the base of the tail of rats; 3) acute pain induced by the i.p. injection of phenyl-p-quinone into mice resulting in the production of writhes; 4) cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, including COX-1 and COX-2, evaluated using whole blood; and 5) activity of peptidylglycine alpha-monooxygenase (PAM) isolated from Xenopus laevis skin. RESULTS: CDB (10 to 100mg/kg s.c.) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan edema (ED50 of 41 mg/ kg at 3 h) which continued for up to 12 h. Using a therapeutic dosing regimen, this compound inhibited hind paw inflammation (>70%) and arthogram scores in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. This compound also possessed significant analgesic activity in mice (70% inhibition with 50mg/kg). CDB, however, lacked inhibitory activity on bradykinin and serotonin-induced edema. In addition, CDB significantly inhibited COX-I activity (IC50 approximately = 17 microM) while having only a weak inhibitory activity on both COX-2 and PAM activity. CONCLUSIONS: CDB is an effective anti-inflammatory/analgesic agent whose mechanism of action appears to be associated with inhibition of COX-1 activity.

Monensin disruption of neutrophil granule genesis.

The Na+/H+ ionophore monensin (M) has been used widely to study intracellular pH gradients and acidic subcellular compartments. In the present study, cultured myeloid leukemia HL60 cells, directly sampled bone marrow cells, and peripheral blood neutrophils were exposed to 1-5 microM monensin for 0.5-20 hours. The effects were evaluated using ultrastructural, cytochemical, and biochemical methods. In HL60 cells and marrow promyelocytes treated with monensin, progressive vacuolation of the trans then the cis Golgi was observed. These vacuoles lacked diaminobenzidine (DAB) reactive peroxidase, high iron diamine (HID) reactive sulfated glycoconjugates, and periodate-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (PA-TCH-SP) reactive vicinal glycol containing complex carbohydrates, but some cis Golgi elements retained osmium zinc iodide reactive reducing groups. The number of normal intensely stained HID reactive granules decreased and an incomplete granule that was DAB-positive/HID-negative, PA-TCH-SP-negative with flocculent matrix density increased in frequency as a function of time and concentration of monensin. Treatment of HL60 cells with monensin markedly reduced 35SO4 incorporation but myeloperoxidase labeling and activity per cell remained constant, although it shifted to lower density granule fractions consistent with the persistent DAB staining of endoplasmic reticulum and synthesis of a DAB-positive, HID-negative granule in intact HL60 cells. The Golgi complex of monensin-treated myelocytes and segmented neutrophils was also vacuolated. A subpopulation of preformed primary granules in promyelocytes, myelocytes, and segmented neutrophils appeared to increase in size and peripheral or central electron lucency. These selective effects of monensin indicate that granule components may be packaged into DAB-positive organelles that are deficient in trans Golgi-derived elements (HID- and PA-TCH-SP-negative) and that some preformed primary granules contain a monensin sensitive Na+/H+ gradient.

Biochemical and ultrastructural effects of monensin on the processing, intracellular transport, and packaging of myeloperoxidase into low and high density compartments of human leukemia (HL-60) cells.

The biosynthesis of myeloperoxidase in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells was studied by pulse-chase and immunoprecipitation methods and separation of subcellular organelles using Percoll density gradient fractionation. These studies revealed that in control and monensin (1 microM) treated cells, more than 85% of the total immunoprecipitable radiolabeled myeloperoxidase was present predominantly in precursor form (Mr 91,000) and resided in lower density compartments after an initial 3-h labeling period. Using biochemical and ultrastructural techniques, the lower density regions of the gradient were found to contain elements of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex. Following a 16-h chase period, about 70% of the radiolabeled myeloperoxidase in untreated cells was found predominantly in denser regions of the gradient and was present mainly in the form of the mature large subunit (Mr 63,000). These dense regions were shown to contain azurophilic granules by means of the distribution of beta-glucuronidase and myeloperoxidase activities and by electron microscopy. Processing of myeloperoxidase and its deposition into dense granules were blocked by monensin treatment. Following a 16-h chase period in the presence of monensin, approximately 80% of the radiolabeled myeloperoxidase continued to reside in lower density compartments and was predominantly in precursor (Mr 91,000) and intermediate (Mr 81,000 and 74,000) forms. Only about 10% of the radiolabeled myeloperoxidase was associated with dense azurophilic granules. Monensin treatment produced large, Golgi-derived vacuoles which were isolated using Percoll density centrifugation and identified by electron microscopy. These vacuoles were found to be essentially devoid of peroxidase activity and pulse-labeled, newly synthesized radiolabeled myeloperoxidase species. The effects of monensin on transport and processing were reversible after a 3-h exposure and 16-h chase period in the absence of monensin. Taken together, these data indicate that maturation of myeloperoxidase is closely linked to its deposition into dense azurophilic granules via a monensin-sensitive process(es). The lower density compartments within which immature myeloperoxidase species accumulate in the presence of monensin appear to be functionally related to or associated with Golgi or endoplasmic reticulum structures distinct from the large monensin-induced vacuoles.

Cytochemistry and ultrastructural morphometry of cultured HL60 myeloid leukemia cells.

Cultured human myeloid leukemia (HL60) cells were characterized using ultrastructural cytochemical methods and differences identified when cells were compared for low (17 to 47), middle (69 to 100), and high (214 to 244) passages or to normal promyelocytes aspirated from bone marrow. Endoplasmic reticulum and transition structures (pre-Golgi compartment) of HL60 cells stained positively for peroxidase using diaminobenzidine but stained sparsely for reducing groups with osmium-zinc iodide. Staining of Golgi elements was relatively indistinct with diaminobenzidine and strong with osmium-zinc iodide, in comparison to freshly harvested promyelocytes which have intense diaminobenzidine and osmium-zinc iodide staining of the pre-Golgi and Golgi compartments. Cytoplasmic polyribosomes were more numerous in middle and high passage cells, whereas dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum was less prominent in these cells. The mean granule size was significantly increased in low passage cells, and staining of peroxidase was more prominent by light and electron microscopy when compared to high passage cells. Cytoplasmic granules demonstrated strong complex carbohydrate staining, indicating a lack of granule maturation in HL60 cells. Terminally differentiated myeloid cells were more frequent in low passage samples, and some neutrophil granule maturation appeared to occur within these cells, whereas all eosinophil granules consistently remained immature with intense complex carbohydrate staining and lack of crystalloid formation. These studies demonstrate significant differences between HL60 cells and normal promyelocytes, and also passage-dependent maturational differences in HL60 cells. These differences should be considered in evaluating parameters of cell growth and maturation and in the biochemical and enzymatic characterization of these cells.

Evidence for the involvement of an acidic compartment in the processing of myeloperoxidase in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

The observation that myeloperoxidase precursor and larger intermediate (Mr 91,000 and 81,000, respectively) were extracted in the presence of detergent from isolated granule fractions of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells under mildly acidic conditions was investigated. In contrast, under conditions of neutral pH, only the Mr 74,000 intermediate and mature species were extracted. Extraction of the Mr 91,000 and 81,000 forms was also enhanced in the presence of EDTA. Kinetic studies of the processing of the different myeloperoxidase species confirmed the intermediate nature of the Mr 81,000 and 74,000 forms. Support for a role of an acidic intracellular compartment was obtained through evidence that the acid-extractable precursor and intermediates accumulated in HL-60 cells which had been treated with 1 microM monensin. Under these conditions, the production of mature heavy (Mr 63,000) and light (Mr 13,500) subunits of myeloperoxidase was consistently inhibited by greater than 40% over a 16-h period. The effects of monensin on processing of myeloperoxidase were completely reversed if monensin was removed during this 16-h period. These data support the idea that an acidic compartment may be involved in the transport of myeloperoxidase precursors to azurophil granules and/or their processing to a smaller intermediate form (Mr 74,000) of the enzyme.

Processing of a newly identified intermediate of human myeloperoxidase in isolated granules occurs at neutral pH.

Myeloperoxidase is a major component of specialized lysosomes known as azurophil granules in polymorphonuclear leukocytes or neutrophils. The processing of myeloperoxidase in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells was studied by pulse-labeling cells in culture with [35S]methionine followed by immunoprecipitation and identification of myeloperoxidase polypeptides from cell fractions after various chase intervals. These studies revealed the presence of a previously unidentified intermediate with Mr 74,000 which kinetically followed the appearance of a larger Mr 81,000 intermediate. Using an in vitro lysosomal preparation the newly identified Mr 74,000 intermediate was directly converted within protected granules to mature forms of myeloperoxidase (Mr 63,000 and 60,000). This conversion occurred optimally at pH 7.5 and was not inhibited by lysosomotropic agents (chloroquine, NH4Cl) or protonophores (monensin, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone). Furthermore, the uptake of radiolabeled amines indicated a neutral intragranular environment (pH 7.35-7.67) which remained unchanged in the presence and absence of 1 mM ATP or 2.5 microM carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. We conclude that, in contrast to other lysosomal pathways, the final proteolytic cleavage of myeloperoxidase does not require an acidic environment.

The determination of molecular weights of biologically active proteins by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A novel cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system which is useful for the separation of native forms of proteins consistent with their molecular weights is reported here. Many proteins examined in this system demonstrated the same association patterns which have been shown by other techniques to exist under nondenaturing conditions. In addition, biological activity could be assayed directly in the gel after electrophoresis. Based on the peculiar characteristics of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, a possible explanation which may account for the behavior of proteins in this system is presented.