Inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by zymosan in the plantar tissue of the rat: effect of kinin receptor antagonists.

The Randall-Selitto paradigm (maximal tolerated pressure externally applied by a mechanical device) was used to develop a rat model of localized inflammatory hyperalgesia in order to compare the analgesic effects of bradykinin (BK) B1 and B2 receptor antagonists and of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Intra-plantar injection of zymosan (12.5 mg per paw) induced a considerable inflammation as evidenced from gross and histological evaluation and a mechanical hyperalgesia at 6 h. The contra-lateral paw of zymosan-treated animals or saline vehicle-injected paws did not exhibit a decreased pressure tolerance, relative to pre-injection measurements. Since the B1 receptor may be induced under inflammatory situations, we examined the amount of corresponding mRNA using quantitative RT-PCR. We found a significant increase of B1 receptor mRNA in the zymosan--but not the saline-injected paw at 6 h. Drugs were given subcutaneously 2 h before the 6 h readings to test their analgesic potential. The kinin B1 receptor antagonists [Leu8]des-Arg9-BK (3-30 nmol/kg) and R-715 (100 nmol/kg), the B2 receptor antagonists Hoe 140 (15 nmol/kg) and LF 16.0687 (3 and 10 mg/kg), as well as the NSAID diclofenac sodium (1 and 3 mg/kg) significantly reversed zymosan-induced hyperalgesia. We conclude that zymosan-induced hyperalgesia is a model suitable for the rapid evaluation of analgesic drugs with a peripheral site of action interfering either with kinin receptors or with prostanoid formation. In this regard, results of the present study confirm that blocking kinin B1 receptors is a novel approach for treatment of inflammatory pain.

Pharmacological profile of LF 16-0687, a new potent non-peptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist.

LF 16-0687 (1-[[2,4-dichloro-3-[[(2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl)oxy] methyl]phenyl]sulfonyl]-N-[3-[[4-(aminoimethyl) phenyl] carbonylamino]propyl]-2(S)-pyrrolidinecarboxamide) has been selected from a large-scale medicinal chemistry program for further development. In competition binding studies using [3H]bradykinin (BK), LF 16-0687 bound to the human, rat and guinea-pig recombinant B2 receptor expressed in CHO cells giving K(i) values of 0.67 nM, 1.74 nM and 1.37 nM, respectively. It also bound to the native BK B2 receptor from human umbilical vein (HUV), rat uterus (RU) and guinea-pig ileum (GPI) giving K(i) values of 0.89 nM, 0.28 nM and 0.98 nM, respectively. It inhibited BK-induced IP1, IP2 and IP3 formation in INT407 cells yielding pK(B) values of 8.5, 8.6 and 8.7, respectively. In isolated organs experiments, LF 16-0687 behaved as a competitive antagonist of BK-mediated contractions giving pA2 values of 9.1 in HUV, 7.7 in RU and 9.1 in GPI. Binding and functional studies performed over 40 different receptors revealed that LF 16-0687 was selective for the BK B2 receptor. A continuous intravenous infusion of LF 16-0687 antagonized in a dose-dependent manner and with a rapid onset of action BK-induced hypotensive response. Subcutaneous administration of LF 16-0687 at 1.1 micromol/kg to rats markedly reduced BK-induced edema of the stomach (- 69%), duodenum (-65%) and pancreas (-56%).

Design and synthesis of potent bradykinin agonists containing a benzothiazepine moiety.

A bradykinin analogue (H-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-D-BT-Arg-OH, 3) in which the Pro-Phe dipeptide was replaced by the (3S)[amino]-5-(carbonylmethyl)-2,3-dihydro-1, 5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one (D-BT) moiety has been synthesized. The same modification was performed on the potent bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist HOE 140 (H-D-Arg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-D-Tic-Oic-Arg-OH), in which the -D-Tic-Oic- moiety was replaced by D-BT to yield H-D-Arg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-D-BT-Arg-OH, 1 (JMV1116). These compounds were examined in vitro for their binding affinity toward bradykinin B(1) and B(2) receptors as well as for their ability to interfere with bradykinin-induced contraction of both human umbilical vein and rat uterus. The two compounds 3 and 1 competed with [(3)H]bradykinin binding to the human cloned B(2) receptor giving K(i) values of 13 +/- 2 and 0.7 +/- 0.1 nM, respectively. Unexpectedly, both compounds were full bradykinin B(2) receptor agonists on the human umbilical vein (pD(2) = 6.60 +/- 0.07 for 3 and 6.80 +/- 0.08 for 1) and rat uterus (pD(2) = 7.20 +/- 0.09 for 3 and 7.50 +/- 0.09 for 1) preparations with the same efficacy as bradykinin. In addition 1 induced a concentration-dependent phosphoinositide production in CHO cells expressing the human cloned B(2) receptor. These data provide evidence for a bioactive conformation of bradykinin constrained at the dipeptide Pro-Phe.

Synthesis and characterization of bradykinin B(2) receptor agonists containing constrained dipeptide mimics.

We have previously shown that substitution of the D-Tic-Oic dipeptide by a (3S)-[amino]-5-(carbonylmethyl)-2,3-dihydro-1, 5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one (D-BT) moiety in the bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist HOE 140 resulted in a full potent and selective bradykinin B(2) receptor agonist (H-DArg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-D-BT-Arg-OH, JMV1116) exhibiting a high affinity for the human receptor (K(i) 0.7 nM). In the present study, we have investigated the effects of replacement of the D-Tic-Oic moiety by various constrained dipeptide mimetics. The resulting compounds were tested for their binding affinity toward the cloned human B(2) receptor and for their functional interaction with the bradykinin-induced contraction of isolated human umbilical vein. Subsequently, we have designed novel bradykinin B(2) receptor agonists which are likely to be resistant to enzymatic cleavage by endopeptidases and which might represent interesting new pharmacological tools. In an attempt to increase the potency of compound JMV1116, both its N-terminal part and the D-BT moiety were modified. Substitution of the D-arginine residue by a L-lysine residue led to a 10-fold more potent bradykinin B(2) ligand [compound 22 (JMV1465) (K(i) 0.07 nM)], retaining full agonist activity on human umbilical vein. Substitution of the D-BT moiety by a (3S)-[amino]-5-(carbonylmethyl)-2,3-dihydro-8-methyl-1, 5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one [D-BT(Me)] moiety led to compound 23 (JMV1609) which exhibited a higher agonist activity (pD(2) = 7.4) than JMV1116 (pD(2) = 6.8).

Pharmacological and molecular evidence for kinin B1 receptor expression in urinary bladder of cyclophosphamide-treated rats.

1. In the present study, we developed an experimental model of cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP). In order to characterize des-Arg9-BK-induced contraction on the urinary bladder (UB) during the development of inflammation and to quantify kinin B1 receptor gene expression using a quantitative RT - PCR technique. 2. In the presence of peptidase inhibitors captopril (10 microM), DL-thiorphan (1 microM) and DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidino-ethylthiopropanoic acid (MERGEPTA 5 microM), bradykinin (BK) (0.3 - 3,000 nM) evoked a concentration-dependent contraction of rat UB which was not different between the CYP- and vehicle-treated groups. Unlike BK, des-Arg9-BK (0.3 - 100,000 nM) did not contract UB from vehicle-treated rats but contracted vigorously bladder strips from CYP-treated rats 14, 24 and 168 h after treatment. In UB of 24 h treated rat, the pD2 value of des-Arg9-BK was 7.3+/-0.1. 3. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (3 microM) reduced by 30% the maximal response of des-Arg9-BK. Both the kinin B1 receptor antagonists des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK (10 microM) and des-Arg10-Hoe 140 (10 microM) produced a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to des-Arg9-BK yielding pKB values of 6.8+/-0.2 and 7.2+/-0.1, respectively, whilst the kinin B2 receptor antagonist Hoe 140 (1 microM) had no effect. 4. After CYP treatment, mRNA coding for the kinin B1 receptor appeared predominantly in UB. In this organ, the induction was progressive, reaching a maximum 48 h after CYP treatment. 5. In conclusion, the present study provides strong evidence for an induction of kinin B1 receptors in UB of CYP-treated rats. This was associated at a molecular level with an increase in mRNA expression of the gene coding for the kinin B1 receptor. This kinin receptor displayed the whole features of a classical rat kinin B1 receptor.

Pharmacological characterization of the bradykinin B2 receptor: inter-species variability and dissociation between binding and functional responses.

1. The present study addresses the differences in binding profiles and functional properties of the human and rat bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor using various kinin receptor peptide derivatives as well as the non-peptide receptor antagonists WIN 64338 (phosphonium, [[4-[[2-[[bis(cyclohexylamino)methylene]amino]-3-(2-naphtalenyl)1- oxopropyl]amino]-phenyl]-methyl]tributyl, chloride, monohydro-chloride), and FR173657 (E)-3-(6-acetamido-3-pyridyl)-N-[-N-[2,4-dichloro-3-[(2-methyl-8-quinoli nyl)oxymethyl]-phenyl]N-methylamino carbonyl methyl] acrylamide. 2. [3H]-BK bound with a similar affinity to membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) expressing the cloned human (hB2-CHO) or rat (rB2-CHO) B2 receptor, human embryonic intestine cells (INT407) expressing the native B2 receptor, human umbilical vein (HUV) and rat uterus (RU). WIN 64338 and FR173657 bound with a 3.8-6.6 fold and 7.0-16.3 fold higher affinity the rat than the human B2 receptor, respectively. The affinity values of BK derivatives as well as non-peptide antagonists were reduced by 6-23 fold in physiological HBSS compared to low ionic strength TES binding buffer. 3. BK (0.01-3000 nM) increased inositol triphosphates (IP3) levels in hB2-CHO, rB2-CHO and INT407 cells. The B2 receptor antagonist, Hoe 140 (D-Arg0-[ Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-BK) at 10(-7) M, significantly shifted to the right the IP3 response curves to BK giving apparent pKB values of 8.56, 9.79 and 8.84 for hB2-CHO, rB2-CHO and INT407 cells, respectively. 4. In human isolated umbilical vein, Hoe 140, D-Arg0-[Hyp3, D-Phe7, Leu8]-BK and NPC 567 had a lower potency in functional assays (pKB 8.18, 5.77 and 5.60, respectively) than expected from their affinity in binding studies (pKi 10.52, 8.64 and 8.27, respectively). 5. FR173657 behaved as a high affinity ligand with pKi values of 8.59 and 9.81 and potent competitive antagonist with pKB values of 7.80 and 8.17 in HUV and RU, respectively. FR173657 bound with a similar affinity the cloned and native bradykinin B2 receptor in human (pKi of 8.66 and 8.59, respectively) and in rat (pKi 9.67 and 9.81, respectively). 6. In conclusion, we suggest that the binding buffer composition has to be taken into account when screening new compounds and that inter-species differences should be considered when setting up animal models with the aim of developing bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists as therapeutic agents.

Effects of lipid-lowering drugs on left ventricular function and exercise tolerance in dyslipidemic coronary patients.

Previous studies suggested that certain lipid-lowering drugs such as statins suppress ubiquinone, affect mitochondrial function, and may have deleterious effect on skeletal or cardiac muscles with potentially serious clinical consequences, especially in patients with established coronary heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction. In this double-blind study, we assessed the effects of 20 mg simvastatin (S, n = 32) or 200 mg micronized fenofibrate (F, n = 32, control group) on rest and exercise left ventricular function in hypercholesterolemic survivors of a previous Q-wave acute myocardial infarction. Left ventricular radionuclide imaging was performed at rest and during submaximal exercise and global and segmental (nine segment regional wall-motion score) ejection fractions were measured before treatment and 12 weeks later. Serum ubiquinone was reduced after treatment (p = 0.03) in the S but not the F group, whereas total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly reduced in both groups. Before treatment, mean global ejection fraction was 52.1+/-12.2% and 49.3+/-11.8% at rest in F and S patients, respectively, and increased (56.0+/-13.7% in F and 52.1+/-12.9% in S) at peak exercise (no difference between groups). After treatment, the increase in ejection fraction tended to be lower in S (0) than in F (+3.8%) but not significantly. However, ejection fraction at rest increased after treatment in S (p = 0.009) but not in F. Subgroup analyses indicated that the improvement in rest ejection fraction in S was essentially observed in patients with ejection fraction <40% (n = 8, +6%), whereas it was stable in patients with ejection fraction >40% (+1.8%). Finally, the numbers of akinetic or hypokinetic segments at rest and during exercise were not different in the two groups before and after treatment. Mean maximal exercise load (113+/-23 watts in F vs. 104+/-27 W in S before treatment) was not modified by the treatment (111+/-21 and 104+/-27 W). Thus a 12-week lipid-lowering treatment with either S or F did not negatively alter left ventricular function during exercise in dyslipidemic patients with established coronary heart disease and did not affect their ability to exercise. The improvement in left ventricular function at rest after simvastatin in patients with left ventricular dysfunction warrants confirmation in further studies with large sample size.

In vitro and in vivo effects of the new nonpeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, LF 16-0335C, on guinea-pig and rat kinin receptors.

Activation of the kinin-kallikrein system and stimulation of bradykinin (BK) B2 receptors are thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammation and pain. In the present study, we report the pharmacological properties of a novel nonpeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, LF 16-0335C, (1-[[3-[(2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl) oxymethyl]-2,4-dichloro-phenyl]sulfonyl]-2(S)-[[4-[4- (aminoiminomethyl)-phenylcarbonyl]piperazin-1-yl]carbo nyl]pyrrolidine, 2HCl). In binding studies, LF 16-0335C competed with [3H]bradykinin giving Ki values of 1.65 +/- 0.36 nM and 2.20 +/- 0.30 nM in membrane preparations from rat uterus (RU) and guinea-pig ileum (GPI), respectively. In functional experiments, LF 16-0335C inhibited in a competitive manner BK-induced contractions of both isolated RU and GPI, leading to calculated pA2 values of 7.70 +/- 0.70 and 8.30 +/- 0.30, respectively. The inhibitory effect of LF 16-0335C was fully reversible by washing in the guinea-pig ileum. In vivo, LF 16-0335C given intravenously inhibited in a dose-dependent manner BK-induced hypotension in both animal species, although it was more potent in the guinea-pig than in the rat (ED50, 2.5 +/- 1.6 micrograms/kg versus 22.6 +/- 2.3 micrograms/kg). BK is a potent constrictor of guinea-pig airways and this effect was markedly attenuated by LF 16-0335C. In contrast, LF 16-0335C did not affect histamine- and acetylcholine-induced hypotensive response in the rat. We conclude that LF 16-0335C is a potent and selective nonpeptide B2 receptor antagonist which equally binds to the rat and guinea-pig receptor but displays a different in vivo potency in the two species. Therefore, this drug represents a useful tool to better assess the role of bradykinin in pathophysiological conditions.

LF 16.0335, a novel potent and selective nonpeptide antagonist of the human bradykinin B2 receptor.

1. In the present paper, we describe the in vitro pharmacological properties of LF 16.0335 (1-[[3-[(2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl)oxymethyl]-2,4-dichloro-p henyl]sulphonyl] -2(S) - [[4 -[4-(aminoiminomethyl)phenylcarbonyl]piperazin-1-yl]ca rbonyl]pyrrolidine), a novel and potent nonpeptide antagonist of the human bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor. 2. LF 16.0335 displaced [3H]-BK binding to membrane preparations from CHO cells expressing the cloned human B2 receptor, INT 407 cells and human umbilical vein with Ki values of 0.84+/-0.39 nM, 1.26+/-0.68 nM and 2.34+/-0.36 nM, respectively. 3. In saturation binding studies performed in INT 407 cell membranes in the presence or absence of LF 16.0335, max values of [3H]-BK were not significantly changed suggesting that LF 16.0335 behaves as a competitive antagonist. 4. LF 16.0335 had no affinity for the cloned human kinin B1 receptor stably expressed in 293 cells. In addition, this compound at 1 microM did not significantly bind to a range of 40 different membrane receptors and eight ion channels except muscarinic M2 and M1 receptors for which an IC50 value of 0.9 and 1 microM was obtained. 5. BK stimulates in a concentration-dependent manner phosphoinositosides (IPs) production in cultured INT 407 cells. Concentration-response-curves to BK were shifted to the right in the presence of LF 16.0335 (0.1 microM) without reduction of the maximum. LF 16.0335 inhibited the concentration-contraction curve to BK in the human umbilical vein giving a pA2 value of 8.30+/-0.30 with a Schild plot slope that was not different from unity. 6. These results demonstrate that LF 16.0335 is a potent, selective and competitive antagonist of the human bradykinin B2 receptor.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of dimer derivatives of the bradykinin receptor antagonist HOE-140.

The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of dimer derivatives of the C-terminal fragments of the potent bradykinin antagonist HOE-140, linked through their N-termini, were performed. The influence of peptide moiety length was studied using the succinyl moiety as a linker. Our attention focused on the dimer of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of HOE-140 (compound JMV 980), which displayed some inhibiting activity (IC50 = 247 nM) for bradykinin B2 receptors. Unexpectedly, it was orally active in inhibiting bradykinin-induced hypotension in the rat. Based on this tetrapeptide dimer model, we synthesized pseudotetrapeptide dimer bradykinin antagonists 29 and 33, which exhibited high affinity (Ki = 76 and 61 nM, respectively) for the human cloned B2 receptor. In addition, compound 29 inhibited bradykinin-induced contraction of the human umbilical vein giving a pKB value of 6.45. Compounds 29 and 33 were selective toward B2 receptors because they did not bind to the cloned human B1 receptor up to 10 microM.

GeneUp: a program to select short PCR primer pairs that occur in multiple members of sequence lists.

A computer program is presented that selects a small set of short primer pairs for PCR to sample all the sequences in a user-specified list of mRNAs. Such primer pairs could be used to increase the probability of sampling mRNAs of particular interest in differential display and to generate simplified hybridization probes for DNA chips or arrays. The program uses simulated PCR to find pairs of primers that sample more than one sequence in the list. A small set of such primer pairs is selected that give maximal coverage of the sequences in the list. Primer pairs are excluded that: (i) generate simulated PCR products of the same size from a number of sequences in the list, (ii) can easily form primer dimers, (iii) are outside a specified range of G + C content or (iv) occur in another list of undesirable sequences, such as rRNAs and Alu repeats. Five lists consisting of from 48-285 cDNA sequences were used to test the program. A small number of pairs of primers, 8-10 bases in length, were selected that fit the above criteria and that generate one or more simulated PCR products in all or most of the cDNAs in each list.

Haemodynamic and cardiac effects of kinin B1 and B2 receptor stimulation in conscious instrumented dogs.

1. Mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented with an intra-aortic catheter, a Königsberg intraventricular pressure transducer and a Döppler flow probe around the left coronary artery. After ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium, the cardiovascular effects of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptor agonists, des-Arg9-bradykinin and bradykinin (BK), were investigated in the presence and absence of specific antagonists. The contribution of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids to the cardiovascular effects of kinins was also examined. 2. BK (1 microgram kg-1 min-1) and des-Arg9-BK (1 microgram kg-1 min-1) both given as a 2 min i.v. infusion, produced a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP, -34 +/- 4% for BK and -45 +/- 2% for des-Arg9-BK) and coronary vascular resistance (CVR, -37 +/- 5% for BK and -50 +/- 2% for des-Arg9-BK), without affecting cardiac contractility, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and coronary velocity. BK caused a significantly greater decrease in MAP and CVR than des-Arg9-BK (P < 0.05). 3. Pretreatment with the B1 receptor antagonist, des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK (25 micrograms kg-1) significantly inhibited the decrease in MAP and CVR produced by des-Arg9-BK but not by BK. Infusion of des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK alone also induced a significant decrease in MAP and CVR (P < 0.05). In the presence of the B2 receptor antagonist, Hoe 140 (25 micrograms kg-1), only the decreases in MAP and CVR caused by BK were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). 4. Inhibition of NO synthase with N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG, 45 mg kg-1) significantly (P < 0.05) prevented the decrease in CVR but not MAP induced by des-Arg9-BK, whilst responses to BK were not affected by L-NOARG pretreatment. Inhibition of prostanoid synthesis with indomethacin (25 mg kg-1) did not affect the reductions in MAP and CVR induced by des-Arg9-BK or BK. 5. In conclusion, i.v. des-Arg9-BK and BK administration induced reductions in MAP and CVR suggesting that in conscious instrumented dogs both B1 and B2 receptors are present and can affect systemic blood pressure and coronary resistance regulation. Our results also suggest that prostanoids are not involved in the vascular response to kinins and that coronary vascular B1 receptors are at least in part coupled to the release of NO.

Characterisation of bradykinin receptors from juvenile pig coronary artery.

Coronary artery rings from juvenile male farm pigs were incubated for 6 h and precontracted with U46619. The rings relaxed in response to des-Arg9-bradykinin (pD2, 7.78 +/- 0.13; Emax, 87.4 +/- 4.3%) and to bradykinin (pD2, 8.69 +/- 0.30; Emax, 104.2 +/- 4.4%). These responses were abolished by endothelium removal and unaffected by indomethacin whilst NG-nitro-L-arginine reduced the relaxation due to des-Arg9-bradykinin only. Preincubation with cycloheximide or actinomycin had no effect against relaxations mediated by kinins whilst the protein trafficking inhibitor, brefeldin A, reduced by 52% the maximum response to des-Arg9-bradykinin. The bradykinin receptor antagonists, des-Arg9-[Leu8]bradykinin, Hoe 140 (D-Arg-[Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]bradykinin) and NPC 567 (D-Arg-[Hyp3,D-Phe7]bradykinin) antagonized competitively the response to des-Arg9-bradykinin, giving respective pA2 values of 6.82 +/- 0.34, 6.63 +/- 0.28 and 6.48 +/- 0.41 whereas the non-peptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, WIN 64338 (phosphonium, [[4-[[2-[[bis(cyclohexylamino)methylene]amino]-3-(2- naphtalenyl) 1-oxopropyl]amino]-phenyl]-methyl]tributyl chloride, monohydrochloride), was inactive. Hoe 140 and WIN 64338 but not des-Arg9[Leu8]bradykinin behaved as competitive antagonists towards the relaxation due to bradykinin. In conclusion, both bradykinin B2 and B1 receptors are present on the endothelium of large coronary arteries from juvenile pig. The bradykinin B1 receptor subtype appears partly inducible and is coupled to the synthesis of nitric oxide.

Quantitative image analysis of cell proliferation after balloon catheter injury in the rabbit carotid artery.

OBJECTIVE: To perform color image analysis to assess the course of morphometric and proliferative changes in the intima and media of rabbit carotid arteries following balloon injury. STUDY DESIGN: Proliferating smooth muscle cells were labeled with proliferating cell nuclear antigen and vizualized by immunohistochemical staining of histologic sections. Morphometry was performed on histologic cross-sections of injured arteries stained with hematoxylin. RESULTS: The development of intimal hyperplasia following an acute mechanical injury was detectable early on and was accompanied by a burst of cell proliferation. Medial cell proliferation peaked on day 3 after balloon injury, and the maximum of intimal cell proliferation was noted on day 7. CONCLUSION: The color image analysis method described here could be a useful tool in evaluating drugs for their ability to prevent restenosis.

Reduction of intimal hyperplasia by naroparcil, a 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xyloside analogue, after arterial injury in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit.

4-Methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xylosides (beta-D-xylosides) inhibit proteoglycan synthesis, and this is associated with reduced proliferation and extracellular matrix production by vascular smooth muscle cells. This study evaluated whether treatment with naroparcil, a beta-D-xyloside analogue, reduced intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit. Forty-two rabbits were assigned to three groups that received either a 1% cholesterol-enriched diet (group 1, n = 15) or the same diet with added 100 mg.kg-1 naroparcil (group 2, n = 15) or 300 mg.kg-1 naroparcil (group 3, n = 12). All animals underwent iliac artery endothelial abrasion at day 14 and were killed at day 56. At the time of death, the angiographic minimal luminal diameter was significantly larger in both treated groups. Morphometric analysis showed a larger luminal area in treated rabbits (groups 2 and 3) compared with control rabbits (group 1) (0.75 +/- 0.54 and 0.85 +/- 0.61 mm2 versus 0.32 +/- 0.25 mm2, respectively; P < .05), with a decreased intimal thickness in groups 2 and 3 (average reduction of 37% and 39%, respectively, compared with group 1; P < .05) but without changes in medial area. Total vessel area was comparable among all groups. In the media, immunohistochemistry suggested reduced infiltration by macrophages and a larger fractional area of smooth muscle cells. There were no differences in plasma or arterial wall cholesterol content between groups. Plasma levels of glycosaminoglycans and dermatan sulfate content were increased only in group 3. In this model, oral treatment with naroparcil appears to preserve the arterial lumen and reduce intimal thickness after arterial injury.

Pharmacological evidence for a single bradykinin B2 receptor in the guinea-pig.

1. The present study addresses the possibility of the existence of different kinin B2 receptor subtypes in the guinea-pig by evaluating the affinity of peptide and nonpeptide receptor antagonists. For this purpose, jugular vein rings, ileum segments, lung parenchymal and trachea strips were set up in organ baths for isometric tension measurements. The experiments were conducted in the presence o indomethacin (3 microM), atropine (10 microM) and captopril (10 microM). 2. BK contracted jugular vein (JV), ileum (GPI), parenchyma (LP) and trachea (GPT) with an EC50 of 13.2 +/- 1.4 nM (n=27), 11.2 +/- 2.1 (n=26), 23.6 +/- 6.3 (n=26), and 33.0 +/- 6.5 (n=27), respectively. Thiorphan, a neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.34.11) inhibitor and MERGETPA (DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid), a carboxypeptidase inhibitor, had no effect on the BK-induced contractions of JV, GPI and LP. In the GPT, thiorpan potentiated the contractile response to BK and was thus added in the corresponding experiments. 3. The peptide B2 receptor antagonist, Hoe 140 and the nonpeptide compound, WIN 64338, behaved as noncompetitive antagonists against contractile responses to cumulative BK in the four tissues although Hoe 140 appeared as a competitive inhibitor in the GPT only. IN order to compare the inhibitory potency of these compounds between tissues, pKB values were determined. Mean values of pKB for Hoe 140 were 8.05 +/- 0.07, 8.43 +/- 0.11, 8.13 +/- 0.18, and 8.52 +/- 0. 25 in the JV, GPI, GPT and LP, respectively. WIN 64338 gave mean pKB values of 6.89 +/- 0.10, 7.57 +/- 0.12, 7.36 +/- 0.12 adn 7.51 +/- 0.28 in the JV, GPI, LP and GPT, respectively. 4. D-Arg [Hyp3, D-Phe7, Leu8]BK and D-Arg[Hyp3, D-Phe7]BK (NPC 567) inhibited in a competitive fashion the concentration-response curves to BK. Values of pA2for each compound were not significantly different in the four tissues and were between 5.81 and 6.31 for D-Arg [Hyp3, D-Phe7, Leu8]BK and between 5.55 and 5.65 for NPC 567.

The kinin B1 receptor antagonist des-Arg9-[Leu8]bradykinin: an antagonist of the angiotensin AT1 receptor which also binds to the AT2 receptor.

1. Agonists and antagonists of kinin B1 and B2 receptors were evaluated in vitro for their effects against angiotensin II (AII)-induced contractile responses in the rabbit aorta and for their binding properties to angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptors from purified membrane of rat liver and lamb uterus respectively. 2. In aortic rings, the kinin B1 receptor antagonist, des-Arg9-[Leu8]bradykinin (BK) (3-100 microM) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in sensitivity and a depression of the maximum response to AII. Des-Arg10-[Leu9]kallidin (KD), des-Arg9-BK, des-Arg10-KD, BK or KD at 3 microM had no effect against AII-induced contractions. 3. Des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK (3 or 100 microM) did not affect contractions of aortic rings to histamine, potassium chloride, endothelin-1, 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline and the thromboxane A2-mimetic, U46619. 4. Des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK displaced [125I]-Sar1-AII binding to the AT1 subtype in rat liver membranes with a Ki value of 1.1 +/- 0.4 microM. Values of Ki for des-Arg9-BK and KD were 45 +/- 13 microM and 25 +/- 22 microM, respectively. The other kinin derivatives des-Arg10-KD, BK and des-Arg10-[Leu9]KD at concentrations up to 100 microM did not bind to the AT1 receptor. 5. All the kinin derivatives except BK bound to AT2 receptors in lamb uterus membranes. Values of Ki for des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK, des-Arg10-[Leu9]KD, des-Arg9-BK, des-Arg 10-KD and KD were 0.3 +/- 0.1, 0.7 +/- 0.1, 1.2 +/- 0.3, 1.5 +/- 0.3 and 7.0 +/- 1.6 microM, respectively. 6. In conclusion, des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK is an insurmountable antagonist of AII-induced contractions in the rabbit aorta and also binds with a relatively high affinity to AT1 and AT2 receptors in isolated membrane fractions. These additional properties of des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK should be considered when it is used as an antagonist to characterize kinin B1 receptors.

Induction of kinin B1 receptor-dependent vasoconstriction following balloon catheter injury to the rabbit carotid artery.

1. Balloon catheter injury to the rabbit carotid artery damaged the endothelium and induced neointima formation over 7 days. The area of intima, expressed as a percentage of the media, was 16.2 +/- 4.2% and 8.2 +/- 0.1% in balloon catheter-injured and sham-operated arteries. 2. Seven days after arterial injury, carotid arteries were isolated and set up as ring preparations in organ baths for isometric tension measurements. Balloon catheter-injured arteries first contracted with noradrenaline (0.01-0.1 microM), contracted further in a concentration-dependent manner to bradykinin (BK; pD2, 5.98 +/- 0.22; Emax, 41.3 +/- 5.2% of KCl) and to des-Arg9-BK (pD2, 7.12 +/- 0.36; Emax, 46.0 +/- 9.9% of KCl). In contrast, vessel segments with endothelium either intact or acutely removed were unresponsive to both BK receptor agonists. 3. The concentration-contraction curves for BK and for des-Arg9-BK were shifted to the right by the B1 receptor antagonist, [Leu8]des-Arg9-BK (3 microM), but not by the selective B2 receptor antagonist, Hoe 140 (1 microM). 4. Thus, BK and its metabolite, des-Arg9-BK act as vasoconstrictor agents following balloon catheter injury. These effects appear to be mediated by activation of B1 receptors.

Markedly different effects on ventricular remodeling result in a decrease in inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the type and extent of ventricular remodeling after infarction influence inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias after infarction. BACKGROUND: Although serious ventricular arrhythmias after infarction are related to ventricular dysfunction, the relation between inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias and ventricular remodeling remains incompletely understood. METHODS: Rats that survived ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 218) were randomized to receive placebo (saline solution) or captopril or propranolol therapy and were followed up for 5 weeks. Hemodynamic and neurohumoral blood measurements were obtained, and therapy was stopped. Two days later, susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias was assessed by programmed electrical stimulation, and hearts were prepared for pathologic studies. RESULTS: Placebo-treated rats with a large myocardial infarction had ventricular dysfunction, marked neurohumoral activation, ventricular enlargement (endocardial circumference 16 +/- 3 [mean +/- SD] to 20 +/- 4 mm, p < 0.05) and increased cardiac fibrosis (volume density of collagen 2.3 +/- 0.8% to 5.6 +/- 2.4%, p < 0.05). In many rats this resulted in easily inducible ventricular arrhythmias (inducibility quotient 4.9 +/- 2.2). Captopril attenuated the development of ventricular dysfunction, neurohumoral activation, ventricular hypertrophy and dilation (endocardial circumference 18 +/- 3 mm) and cardiac fibrosis (3.1 +/- 0.8%, p < 0.05). These modifications were accompanied by decreased inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias (inducibility quotient 1.1 +/- 2.0, p < 0.05). Propranolol did not prevent ventricular dysfunction, had variable effects on neurohumoral activation and led to increased ventricular dilation (endocardial circumference 25 +/- 4 mm, p < 0.05) and cardiac fibrosis (7.7 +/- 1.2%, p < 0.05). Nevertheless, these morphologic changes led to decreased inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias (inducibility quotient 2.2 +/- 2.5%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias can be reduced as a result of markedly different effects on ventricular remodeling, indicating that the relation between ventricular remodeling, arrhythmias and survival is more complex than previously thought.

Regulation of the endothelin-1 transmembrane signaling pathway: the potential role of agonist-induced desensitization in the coronary artery of the rapid ventricular pacing-overdrive dog model of heart failure.

This study examined the potential role of ET-1 and the contribution of protein kinase C (PKC) in the desensitization of the ET-1 transmembrane signaling pathway in the left circumflex coronary artery (CCA) of a dog model of congestive heart failure (CHF). In the CCA of the rapid ventricular pacing-overdrive dog model of CHF, elevated plasma endothelin levels were associated with a decrease in the basal accumulation of inositol phosphates and ET-1 mediated activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover (P < 0.05). To assess whether elevated plasma ET-1 levels may have contributed to the diminished ET-1 responsiveness in the heart failure dogs, ET-1 generation of inositol phosphates was measured following a one hour pretreatment of normal coronary artery rings with 0.1 nM ET-1. As compared to non-treated rings, ET-1 pretreatment resulted in a 33% decrease of ET-1 (10 nM) production of inositol phosphates. To evaluate the role of PKC in this process, normal coronary rings pretreated for a period of one hour with the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 1 microM), resulted in a similar attenuation (36%) of ET-1 production of inositol phosphates. In the presence of the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine, both the agonist and phorbol ester induced decreases in ET-1 mediated PI turnover were reversed. Staurosporine even potentiated (75%) ET-1 induced PI turnover despite ET-1 and PMA pretreatments. These results suggest that agonist-induced desensitization of ET-1 mediated PI turnover can occur and is at least one of the possible mechanisms contributing to the desensitization of the ET-1 transmembrane signaling pathway in the pacing-overdrive model of heart failure in the dog.