Delta opioid agonists attenuate TAT(1-72)-induced oxidative stress in SK-N-SH cells.

Previous reports have indicated that the use of delta agonists may prove to be a viable therapeutic tool as an analgesic agent without conventional opioid side effects. In addition, recent evidence suggests that delta ligands may exert neuroprotective effects under a variety of toxin insults. The aim of the present studies was to assess the ability of delta agonists (peptide: [D-Pen(2,5)] enkephalin (DPDPE), non-peptide: (+)-4-[(aR)-a-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide (SNC-80)) and antagonists (naltrindole) to modify dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) fluorescence in the presence of the peroxynitrite generator, 3-morpholinylsydnoneimine chloride (SIN-1) or HIV-protein, TAT(1-72) (TAT) in SK-N-SH cells. Both DPDPE (100 nM) and SNC-80 (250 nM) attenuated (30-50%) the increased oxidative stress in the presence of SIN-1. This effect was partially reversed by addition of naltrindole, suggesting involvement of delta receptors. Peroxynitrite radicals are involved in neurotoxicity associated with TAT. Incubation with TAT (10-250 nM) demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in oxidative stress up to 200% over control values. Preincubation with delta agonists reduced 50 nM TAT-mediated oxidative stress 15-40%, which was partially reversed by naltrindole. Increasing log-concentrations of DPDPE or SNC-80 (0.01-100 microM) attenuated TAT-mediated oxidative stress up to 50% at 100 microM. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that both peptide and non-peptide delta agonists can partially attenuate intracellular oxidative stress, in part through a receptor-mediated mechanism. This suggests that delta ligands may have therapeutic usefulness in HIV patients beyond analgesia.

New geranyl stilbenes from Dalea purpurea with in vitro opioid receptor affinity.

Three new geranyl stilbenes, pawhuskins A, B, and C (1, 2, and 3), were isolated from organic extracts of Dalea purpurea. The structures of the three compounds were determined by NMR and HRMS methods. The activities of these compounds, along with that of the known compound petalostemumol (4), were evaluated in an opioid receptor assay in vitro. Pawhuskin A (1) exhibited the strongest activity of the four compounds with a K(i) value of 0.29 +/- 0.11 microM.