Differential activities of decapeptide agonists of human C5a: the conformational effects of backbone N-methylation.

Analogues of the potent, conformationally biased, decapeptide agonist of human C5a anaphylatoxin, C5a(65-74)Y65,F67,P69,P71,D-Ala73 (YSFKPMPLaR, peptide 54), were synthesized with methyl groups occupying specific amide nitrogen atoms along the peptide backbone. This N-methylation induced crucial extended backbone conformations in a manner similar to the two Pro residues, but without eliminating the contributions made by the side-chain of the residue for which Pro was substituted. The presence of backbone N-methyl groups on peptide 54 analogues had pronounced detrimental effects on the ability to bind and activate C5aRs expressed on human PMNs, but not on the ability to contract smooth muscle of human umbilical artery. Several N-methylated analogues of peptide 54 (peptides 56, 67, 124, 125, and 137) were significantly more selective for smooth muscle contraction, which is mediated by tissue resident macrophages, than for enzyme release from PMNs. Indeed, peptide 67, YSFKDMP(MeL)aR was almost 3000-fold more selective for smooth muscle contraction than for PMN enzyme release. Consistent with these differential activities was the observation that peptide 67 expressed a significantly greater binding affinity to C5aRs expressed on rat macrophages than on rat PMNs. This differential activity was also observed in vivo in the rat where peptide 67 induced a hypotensive response similar to peptide 54 and rhuC5a, but without accompanying neutropenia.

Induction of an antigen-specific CTL response by a conformationally biased agonist of human C5a anaphylatoxin as a molecular adjuvant.

A conformationally biased decapeptide agonist of human C5a anaphylatoxin (YSFKPMPLaR) was used as a molecular adjuvant in stimulating an Ag-specific CTL response against murine P815S target cells expressing an Ld-restricted CTL epitope of the hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg). Groups of BALB/c mice (H-2d) were immunized with aqueous solutions of the HBsAg CTL epitopes (IPQSLDSWWTSL and IPQSLDSWWTSLRR); the C5a agonist (YSFKPMPLaR); the C5a agonist and HBsAg CTL epitopes admixed (IPQSLDSWWTSL and IPQSLDSWWTSLRR + YSFKPMPLaR); the C5a-active, HBsAg CTL epitope-C5a agonist constructs (IPQSLDSWWTSLYSFKPMPLaR, IPQSLDSWWTSLRRYSFKPMPLaR, and IPQSLDSWWTSLRVRRYSFPMPLaR); a C5a-inactive, reverse-moiety construct (YSFKPMPLaRRRIPQSLDSWWTSL); and a C5a-attenuated, carboxyl-terminal-blocked construct (IPQSLDSWWTSLRRYSFKPMPLaRG). Ag-specific CD8+ CTL responses were observed after the secondary boost in the absence of any added adjuvant only in mice that were immunized with C5a-active contructs, IPQSLDSWWTSLRRYSFKPMPLaR and IPQSLDSWWTSLRVRRYSFKPMPLaR. These two C5a-active immunogens contained potential subtilisin-sensitive linker sequences between the HBsAg CTL epitope and the C5a agonist; i.e., a double-Arg (RR) and a furin protease sensitive sequence (RVRR). The introduction of these potentially cleavable sequences may be a method of increasing the likelihood of liberating the CTL epitope from the C5a agonist by intracellular proteases, thereby facilitating entry of the epitope into Ag-processing pathways via an exogenous route.

Pharmacological characterization of antagonists of the C5a receptor.

1. Potent and highly selective small molecule antagonists have recently been developed by us for C5a receptors (C5aR) on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). In this study we compared a new cyclic antagonist, F-[OPdChaWR], with an acyclic derivative, MeFKPdChaWr, for their capacities to bind to C5aR on human PMN and human umbilical artery membranes. We also compared their inhibition of myeloperoxidase (MPO) secretion from human PMNs and their inhibition of human umbilical artery contraction induced by human recombinant C5a. 2. In both PMNs and umbilical artery, the cyclic and acyclic C5a antagonists displayed insurmountable antagonism against C5a. There were differences in selectivities for the C5aR with F-[OPdChaWR] (pKb 8.64+/-0.21) being 30 times more potent than MeFKPdChaWr (pKb 7.16+/-0.11, P<0.05) in PMNs, but of similar potency (pKb 8.19+/-0.38 vs pKb 8.28+/-0.29, respectively) in umbilical artery. This trend was also reflected in their relative binding affinities, both antagonists having similar affinities (-logIC50 values) for C5aR in umbilical artery membranes (F-[OPdChaWR], 7.00+/-0.46; MeFKPdChaWr, 7.23+/-0.17), whereas in PMN membranes the C5aR affinity of the cycle F-[OPdChaWR] (7.05+/-0. 06) was four times higher than that of acyclic MeFKPdChaWr (6.43+/-0. 24, P<0.05). 3. In summary, the results reveal that these antagonists are insurmountable in nature against C5a for C5aR on at least two human cell types, and the differences in relative receptor binding affinities and antagonistic potencies against C5a are consistent with differences in receptors within these cell types. The nature of these differences is yet to be elucidated.

Response-selective C5a agonists: differential effects on neutropenia and hypotension in the rat.

Some in vivo activities of two complement C5a agonist analogues have been evaluated by measuring changes in blood pressure and neutropenia in the rat and comparing the results with their receptor affinities in peritoneal macrophages and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). In vitro C5a receptor (C5aR) binding experiments showed that YSFKPMPLaR and YSFKD(NMeNle)PlaR had similar affinities for the macrophage C5aR (IC50 0.2, 0.1 microM respectively). In PMNs, the affinity of YSFKPMPLaR (IC50 0.1 microM) was similar to that in macrophages, whereas the affinity of YSFKD(NMeNle)PLaR for the PMN C5aR was >100 microM. Given i.v., YSFKD(NMeNle)PLaR had similar activity to YSFKPMPLaR on blood pressure but did not cause neutropenia. These results demonstrate selectivity of a new C5a agonist in vitro, which is paralleled in vivo. The results suggest the possibility of developing selective agonists of C5a for in vivo use in humans.

Low-molecular-weight peptidic and cyclic antagonists of the receptor for the complement factor C5a.

Activation of the human complement system of plasma proteins during immunological host defense can result in overproduction of potent proinflammatory peptides such as the anaphylatoxin C5a. Excessive levels of C5a are associated with numerous immunoinflammatory diseases, but there is as yet no clinically available antagonist to regulate the effects of C5a. We now describe a series of small molecules derived from the C-terminus of C5a, some of which are the most potent low-molecular-weight C5a receptor antagonists reported to date for the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) C5a receptor. 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to determine solution structures for two cyclic antagonists and to indicate that antagonism is related to a turn conformation, which can be stabilized in cyclic molecules that are preorganized for receptor binding. While several cyclic derivatives were of similar antagonistic potency, the most potent antagonist was a hexapeptide-derived macrocycle AcF[OPdChaWR] with an IC50 = 20 nM against a maximal concentration of C5a (100 nM) on intact human PMNs. Such potent C5a antagonists may be useful probes to investigate the role of C5a in host defenses and to develop therapeutic agents for the treatment of many currently intractable inflammatory conditions.

Sideroxylonal C, a new inhibitor of human plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, from the flowers of Eucalyptus albens.

Sideroxylonal C (3), a new phloroglucinol dimer, was isolated from the flowers of Eucalyptus albens through bioassay-guided fractionation. The structure elucidation was based on 1D and 2D NMR experiments, MS analysis, and comparison with sideroxylonals A (1) and B (2). Sideroxylonal C inhibited human plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 at 4.7 microM without any significant effect on human tissue plasminogen activator.

Conclusive evidence for distinct transporters for 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline in pulmonary endothelial cells of the rat.

The aims of this study were to obtain conclusive evidence about the roles of a 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT] transporter and uptake1 in the dissipation of 5-HT in the lungs of the rat and to compare the properties of the 5-HT transporter in rat lungs with that in other tissues, including brain and platelets. In the first part of the study, the IC50 values of a range of selective inhibitors and substrates of the 5-HT transporter or uptake1 were determined for inhibition of uptake of 5-HT or noradrenaline in intact perfused lungs of rats. Monoamine oxidase was inhibited and, in experiments with noradrenaline, catechol-O-methyltransferase was also inhibited. Initial rates of uptake of 5-HT or noradrenaline were measured in lungs perfused with 2 nmol/l 3H-5-HT or 3H-noradrenaline for 2 min, in the absence or presence of at least three concentrations of paroxetine, citalopram, fluoxetine, 7-methyltryptamine, tryptamine, nisoxetine, imipramine, 5-HT, desipramine, (+)-oxaprotiline, cocaine or tyramine. The results showed that pharmacologically distinct transporters are involved in the uptake of 5-HT and noradrenaline in rat lungs, since there was no significant correlation between the IC50 values for inhibition of 5-HT and noradrenaline uptake in the lungs. However, there were significant correlations between the IC50 values for (a) inhibition of 5-HT uptake in rat lungs and of uptake by the 5-HT transporter in rat brain and (b) inhibition of noradrenaline uptake in rat lungs and of uptake1 in rat phaeochromocytoma PC-12 cells. The results support the conclusion that 5-HT uptake in rat lungs occurs, at least predominantly, by a 5-HT transporter which is very similar to or the same as that in other tissues, such as the brain, and provide further evidence for transport of noradrenaline by uptake1. Further experiments were carried out to determine whether there is any transport of 5-HT by uptake1 or of noradrenaline by the 5-HT transporter in rat lungs. Lungs were perfused with 2 nmol/l 3H-5-HT or 3H-noradrenaline for 2 min in the absence or presence of 1 mumol/l citalopram, desipramine, or citalopram and desipramine. The results showed that there was no evidence of any transport of 5-HT in the lungs by uptake1 or of noradrenaline by the 5-HT transporter, in that desipramine had no effect on 5-HT uptake (in the absence or presence of citalopram) and citalopram had no effect on noradrenaline uptake (in the absence or presence of desipramine). The final series of experiments was carried out to determine whether, at high concentrations of the amine, there is any interaction of 5-HT with uptake1 or of noradrenaline with the 5-HT transporter. Noradrenaline, at a concentration of 10 mumol/l, did not affect 5-HT uptake in lungs perfused with 2 nmol/l 3H-5-HT for 2 min (uptake1 inhibited), but 50 mumol/l 5-HT inhibited noradrenaline uptake by 56% in lungs perfused with 2 nmol/l 3H-noradrenaline for 2 min (5-HT transporter inhibited). These and the above results show that the 5-HT transporter appears to be exclusively responsible for 5-HT uptake in rat lungs, despite the possible interaction of 5-HT at high concentrations with the uptake1 transporter in the cells. On the other hand, noradrenaline is transported exclusively by uptake1 in the lungs, and there is no evidence that it interacts with the 5-HT transporter, even at high concentrations.