Anti-inflammatory activity of the non-peptidyl low molecular weight radical scavenger IAC in carrageenan-induced oedema in rats.

OBJECTIVE: In this research we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of a non-peptidyl low molecular weight radical scavenger (IAC) in an acute and chronic animal model of inflammation. METHODS: For this purpose the effect of IAC (10, 25, 50 mg/kg) was tested in rats on the associated behavioral responses to subsequent inflammatory and noxious challenges, such as hind paw oedema induced by intra-plantar injection of carrageenan and granuloma induced by subcutaneous implant of a cotton pellet, using indometacin (2.5 mg/kg) as reference drug. Moreover, the serum level of several cytokines was tested in the animal treated (or not) with IAC (50 mg/kg) both in the absence and presence of carrageenan-induced inflammation. KEY FINDINGS: IAC showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity in both in acute and chronic models of inflammation. In addition IAC down regulated significantly the serum levels of interleukin (IL) 2 and IL6 whereas it increased the serum concentration of IL1α and glutathione. CONCLUSION: Although it remains to be elucidated whether or not the antioxidant property of IAC is directly responsible for the modulation of the tested cytokines, these results suggest IAC to be a possible candidate for a novel anti-inflammatory compound.

The phytoestrogen ferutinin affects female sexual behavior modulating ERalpha expression in the hypothalamus.

This study was designed to assess the effect of the phytoestrogenic compound ferutinin, chronically administered in ovariectomized progesterone primed rats, alone or in combination with estradiol benzoate. After 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatments, female rats were tested for receptive (lordosis) and proceptive behaviors (hops, darts and ear wigglings). Ferutinin given alone markedly increased the intensity of the lordotic response in ovariectomized rats but failed to significantly affect proceptivity. On the other hand estradiol benzoate significantly increased both receptive and proceptive behaviors. When administered in combination with estradiol, ferutinin reduced the increase in receptivity and proceptivity due to estrogen effects, acting as an antiestrogen. At the end of the behavioral experiments, animals were sacrificed and Western blot analysis of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) levels was performed in the dissected hypothalami. Ferutinin increased ERalpha expression when administered alone, as estradiol did, but decreased the response to estradiol when administered in combination. These results suggest that ferutinin displays estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity through ERalpha in the hypothalamus, depending on the absence or the presence of estrogen priming.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) new insight in cell proliferation and cell differentiation review.

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), is an 18 kDa protein of the mammalian mitochondrial membrane and is a highly conserved protein among the mammalian. PBR is involved in numerous biological functions, including steroid biosynthesis, mitochondrial oxidative phosporylation and cell proliferation. The presence of PBR at the nuclear subcellular level has been demonstrated in aggressive breast cancer cell line and human glioma cells, where it seems to be involved in cell proliferation. In our previous studies we investigated the presence of nuclear PBR in different hepatic tumour cell lines with regard to binding to [3H] PK 11,195 and protein analysis. The results obtained by saturation binding experiments and Scatchard analysis of nuclear PBR density in parallel with the results on the growth curves of the cell lines tested, indicate that the nuclear PBR density correlates inversely with cell doubling time. Moreover, the cell line with high nuclear PBR proliferates in response to PBR ligands, whereas that with low nuclear PBR does not. All these findings support the idea that PBR could play a pivotal role in cell proliferation and this receptor protein could be potentially important either in early diagnosis or chemopreventive strategies against degenerative disease.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum).

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), an internal protein of the mammalian mitochondrial membrane, is involved in several metabolic functions such as steroidogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and regulation of cell proliferation. Here we report the presence of PBRs in parenchymal and meristematic tissues of potato (Solanum tuberosum). PBRs are heterogeneously distributed in potato and are highly expressed in meristematic cells. In particular the receptor protein is mainly localised in the meristematic nuclear subcellular preparation. This 30-36 kDa protein, which corresponds to PBR, is increased, indeed, in meristematic compared to the parenchymal tissue. This suggests an involvement of this receptor in the regulation of cell plant growth. In addition, the demonstration that PBRs are also present in vegetables supports the hypothesis of a highly conserved receptor system during phylogenesis.