PGE1 inhibits the expression of PAI-1 mRNA induced by TNF-alpha in human mesangial cells.

We examined the effect of PGE1 on the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mRNA induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in human mesangial cells, because PAI-1 is one of major factors for the progression of glomerulosclerosis. The expression of PAI-1 mRNA was increased after stimulation with TNF-alpha, and it was diminished by pre-incubation with PGE1. Next, we examined the effect of PGE1 on the phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family and Akt. TNF-alpha activated the phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK, p38 MAPK, SAPK/JNK and Akt in mesangial cells. PGE1 inhibited the TNF-alpha induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK and Akt, but not p44/42 MAPK and p38 MAPK. The TNF-alpha induced expression of PAI-1 mRNA was not affected by PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, nor LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3 K. However, DMAP, an inhibitor of SAPK/JNK, inhibited the expression of PAI-1 mRNA, suggesting that the TNF-alpha induced expression of PAI-1 mRNA is regulated by the SAPK/JNK dependent pathway in human mesangial cells. By the incubation with H8, an inhibitor of PKA, the inhibitory effect of PGE1 on the expression of PAI-1 mRNA was abolished, suggesting that PGE1 inhibited the PAI-1 mRNA expression via the PKA pathway. Our results suggest that the inhibition of PAI-1 synthesis by PGE1 in human mesangial cells may have therapeutic implications for glomerulosclerosis such as occurs in diabetic nephropathy.

alpha-Tocopherol Inhibits IL-8 synthesis induced by thrombin and high glucose in endothelial cells.

It has been reported that alpha-tocopherol, an antioxidant agent, may play a role in preventing diabetic angiopathy. However, there is little evidence to show the effect of alpha-tocopherol on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in endothelial cells. Therefore, we examined the effect of alpha-tocopherol on the regulation of IL-8 synthesis induced by high glucose and/or thrombin in endothelial cells. Thrombin alone markedly increased the IL-8 release. Furthermore, high glucose levels and thrombin combined had additive effects on IL-8 synthesis, and alpha-tocopherol diminished their effect; alpha-tocopherol also inhibited the phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha induced by high glucose levels and/or thrombin. Our results suggest that the administration of alpha-tocopherol to diabetic patients may have a beneficial effect for the prevention of diabetic vascular complications by the inhibition of IL-8 synthesis from endothelial cells.

Pravastatin suppresses the interleukin-8 production induced by thrombin in human aortic endothelial cells cultured with high glucose by inhibiting the p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase.

1. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) prevent the progression of atherosclerosis by lowering cholesterol. However, the effect of statins on the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines from endothelial cells has not yet been fully investigated. Here, we examined the effect of pravastatin, one of the statins, on IL-8 synthesis induced by thrombin in human aortic endothelial cells (AoEC) cultured with high glucose concentrations. 2. Pravastatin significantly decreased the IL-8 synthesis induced by thrombin. 3. Pravastatin inhibited the p44/42 MAP kinase activity induced by thrombin, but did not inhibit the p38 MAP kinase activity. 4. Translocation of ras protein from the cytosol to plasma membrane was inhibited by pravastatin. 5. Pravastatin inhibit the activator protein-1 activity, but did not inhibit the activation of IkappaB-alpha. 6. Dominant negative ras inhibited the p44/42 MAP kinase activity induced by PMA. 7. Our results suggest that pravastatin inhibits IL-8 synthesis by blocking the ras-MAP (p44/42) kinase pathway rather than nuclear factor-kappaB. Pravastatin may prevent atherosclerosis not only by lowering cholesterol levels, but also by suppressing IL-8 synthesis in AoEC through the inhibition of p44/42 MAP kinase, and this may be more beneficial in diabetic patients than in non-diabetics.

Glucosamine enhances platelet-derived growth factor-induced DNA synthesis via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

Vascular smooth muscle cells play a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Culture of vascular smooth muscle A10 cells with high glucose for 4 weeks enhanced platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced BrdU incorporation. Since a long period of high glucose incubation was required for the effect, and it was inhibited by co-incubation with azaserine, the role of hexosamine biosynthesis in the development of atherosclerosis in diabetes was studied in A10 cells. Addition of glucosamine to the culture media enhanced PDGF-stimulated BrdU incorporation, and PDGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the PDGF beta-receptor was increased by glucosamine treatment. Of the subsequent intracellular signaling pathways, PDGF-induced PDGF beta-receptor association with PLC gamma was not affected, whereas tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, subsequent association of Shc with Grb2, and MAP kinase activation were relatively decreased. In contrast, PDGF-induced PDGF beta-receptor association with the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase and PI3-kinase activation were increased by 20% (P<0.01) and 36% (P<0.01), respectively. The intracellular signaling molecules responsible for the glucosamine effect were further examined using pharmacological inhibitors. Pretreatment with PLC inhibitor (U73122) had negligible effects, and MEK1 inhibitor (PD98059) showed only a slight inhibitory effect on the PDGF-induced BrdU incorporation. In contrast, pretreatment with PI3-kinase inhibitor (LY294002) significantly inhibited glucosamine enhancement of PDGF-induced BrdU incorporation. These findings suggest that glucosamine is involved in the development of atherosclerosis by enhancing PDGF-induced mitogenesis specifically via the PI3-kinase pathway.

Joint effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and eicosapentaenoic acids on serum lipid profile and plasma fatty acid concentrations in patients with hyperlipidemia.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors reduce serum total cholesterol concentrations and the risk of coronary heart disease in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Recently, it has been reported that patients with combined hyperlipidemia are also at risk of coronary heart disease. However, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor therapy alone does not sufficiently reduce serum triglyceride concentrations. Epidemiological and clinical evidence has shown that fish oil can lower plasma lipid levels, especially triglycerides. Consequently, we investigated the effects of the combination of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and eicosapentaenoic acid, a major component of fish oil, on hyperlipidemia. We administered 900-1,800 mg/day of the ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid to patients with hyperlipidemia who had been treated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors for 30 +/- 6 months (means +/- SE). Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly decreased 3 months after the administration of eicosapentaenoic acid (from 5.63 +/- 0.23 mmol/l to 5.02 +/- 0.20 mmol/l, P < 0.05; from 2.07 +/- 0.41 mmol/l to 1.08 +/- 0.17 mmol/l, P < 0.01, respectively). Serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations were significantly increased after the treatment (from 1.23 +/- 0.12 mmol/l to 1.34 +/- 0.13 mmol/l, P < 0.05). Plasma eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations and the ratio to arachidonic acid in plasma were also significantly increased 3 months after the treatment (from 101.9 +/- 8.1 mg/l to 181.8 +/- 23.9 mg/l, P < 0.001; from 0.640 +/- 0.075 to 1.211 +/- 0.170, P < 0.001, respectively). These results suggested that the combination therapy of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and eicosapentaenoic acid was effective for patients with hyperlipidemia.

High glucose enhances the gene expression of interleukin-8 in human endothelial cells, but not in smooth muscle cells: possible role of interleukin-8 in diabetic macroangiopathy.

We examined the effect of high glucose concentrations on the production of interleukin(IL)-8, which seems to be important for the development of atherosclerosis, in cultured human aortic endothelial cells (AoEC) and smooth muscle cells (AoSMC). After incubating these cells with various concentrations of glucose for 2 days or 7 days, the IL-8 concentration in cell lysates was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the IL-8 mRNA expression was examined by Northern analysis. After 2 days' culture, 42.5 mmol/l glucose enhanced IL-8 mRNA expression in AoEC, but not in AoSMC, compared to 4 mmol/l glucose. After 7 days' culture, the IL-8 concentration in AoEC lysate and the expression of IL-8 mRNA were significantly increased by 20.5 mmol/l glucose, or 42.5 mmol/l glucose compared to 4 mmol/l glucose. On the other hand, the IL-8 concentration in AoSMC lysate was not affected by any glucose concentration and the expression of IL-8 mRNA in AoSMC was diminished by high glucose. These results suggest that the chemotactic gradient by IL-8 is established between arterial intima and media in response to high glucose levels in diabetic patients, and that it may be one of the key factors for SMC migration to the intima leading to diabetic macroangiopathy.

Effect of glimepiride (HOE 490) on insulin receptors of skeletal muscles from genetically diabetic KK-Ay mouse.

A new sulfonylurea, glimepiride (HOE 490), has been developed for the glycemic control in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We examined the effect of glimepiride on glucose and insulin levels in KK-Ay mice, an animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Administration of glimepiride (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks to KK-Ay mice resulted in decrease in glucose (297 +/- 36 to 250 +/- 51 mg/dl) and insulin (76 +/- 14 to 41 +/- 14 microU/ml) levels. To clarify the mechanism of the agent, we examined the effect of this new drug on insulin receptors in the skeletal muscles. There was no difference in insulin binding to the receptors from both glimepiride-treated and -untreated KK-Ay mice muscles. The insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of insulin receptors from KK-Ay mice was decreased compared to that from normal mice (5 +/- 1 vs. 39 +/- 13% over basal). Glimepiride did not ameliorate impaired insulin-stimulated insulin receptor autophosphorylation. To determine the effect of glimepiride on post-insulin receptor signaling pathway, we measured 2-[3H]glycerol incorporation into diacylglycerol in the cultured rat fibroblast cell line overexpressing human insulin receptors. Glimepiride (100 microM) as well as insulin (10 nM) significantly stimulated diacylglycerol production. These results suggest that glimepiride has a potent extrapancreatic effect on glucose metabolism and may directly stimulate glucose transport activity through phospholipid signaling pathway, but not through insulin receptor kinase signaling pathway.

[A case of drug induced pneumonitis caused by saiboku-To].

We report a case of drug induced pneumonitis caused by Saiboku-To. A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough, fever and severe dyspnea after taking Saiboku-To. Blood gas analysis showed marked hypoxemia. Chest X-ray obtained on admission showed diffuse ground glass shadows in bilateral lung fields, and computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial shadows. Following steroid pulse therapy, clinical symptoms, hypoxemia and chest X-ray findings were ameliorated. Against medical advice, she took another Chinese medicine with ingredients similar to those of Saiboku-To. She complained of dry cough, fever and dyspnea and the chest X-ray again revealed diffuse ground glass shadows in both lung fields. Lymphocyte stimulation test against Saiboku-To and the patch test for Saiboku-To were positive. Therefore, we diagnosed this case as having pneumonitis due to Saiboku-To. This is first report of interstitial pneumonitis due to Saiboku-To.