Inhibition of antigen-induced arthritis in guinea pigs by a selective LTB4 receptor antagonist LY293111Na.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To investigate the role of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the development and progression of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in guinea pigs and rats. METHODS: Arthritis was induced by injecting cationic amidated bovine serum albumin (aBSA) into the knee joint of immunized guinea pigs or rats. The effect of a potent and selective LTB4 receptor antagonist, LY29311INa (2-[2-propyl-3-[3-[2-ethyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxyphenoxy]-propoxy]-phenoxy]benzoic acid sodium salt) was compared with those of indomethacin and dexamethasone. The effect of LY293111Na on adjuvant arthritis in rats was also examined. RESULTS: LY293 111Na (5 to 50 mg/kg b.i.d.) significantly inhibited knee joint swelling and histopathological changes of AIA in guinea pigs, but not in rats. Especially its protective effect against bone and cartilage destruction was substantial. In contrast, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin significantly inhibited AIA in rats, but slightly inhibited in guinea pigs, while dexamethasone markedly inhibited AIA in both guinea pigs and rats. Increases of LTB4 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were observed in the knee joint tissue of AIA guinea pigs, and LY293111Na dose-dependently inhibited the increase of MPO activity. Moreover, in adjuvant arthritic rats, LY293111Na showed slight inhibitory effect, while indomethacin showed marked inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: LTB4 but not PGE2 appeared to play important roles as an effective mediator in joint, particularly in cartilage and bone destruction of AIA in guinea pigs probably by inducing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) chemotaxis to the joint tissue. In contrast, PGE2 but not LTB4 is an important mediator of arthritis in rats.

Effects of the second-generation leukotriene B(4) receptor antagonist, LY293111Na, on leukocyte infiltration and collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

The effects of the second-generation leukotriene B(4) receptor (LTB(4) receptor) antagonist, 2-[2-propyl-3-¿3-[2-ethyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-phenoxy]-propo xy¿phenoxy]benzoic acid sodium salt (LY293111Na), on leukotriene B(4)-induced leukocyte infiltration and interleukin-1-accelerated collagen-induced arthritis in mice were studied. Neutrophil infiltration induced into an air pouch by leukotriene B(4) was dose-dependently inhibited by LY293111Na and strongly so by another LTB(4) receptor antagonist, 4-[5-¿4-(aminoiminomethyl)phenoxy¿pentoxy]-3-methoxy-N, N-bis(1-methylethyl) (Z)-2butenedioate (1:1) (CGS25019C). Both compounds significantly inhibited the increase of the arthritis index and the ankle bone destruction in interleukin-1-accelerated collagen-induced arthritis. Phenidone, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, also inhibited interleukin-1-accelerated collagen-induced arthritis, while indomethacin and tenidap, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, had slight inhibitory effects. Injection of interleukin-1 elicited a marked increase of the leukotriene B(4) level in arthritic paws, while the prostaglandin E(2) level was slightly increased. These findings indicate clearly that leukotriene B(4) is an important mediator of interleukin-1-accelerated collagen-induced arthritis in mice. If this can be extrapolated to man, LTB(4) receptor antagonists might be useful for treatment of the acute progressive phase of human arthritis.

Novel antiarthritic agents with 1,2-isothiazolidine-1,1-dioxide (gamma-sultam) skeleton: cytokine suppressive dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase.

Various 1,2-isothiazolidine-1,1-dioxide (gamma-sultam) derivatives containing an antioxidant moiety, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol substituent, were prepared. Some compounds, which have a lower alkyl group at the 2-position of the gamma-sultam skeleton, showed potent inhibitory effects on both cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), as well as production of interleukin (IL)-1 in in vitro assays. They also proved to be effective in several animal arthritic models without any ulcerogenic activities. Among these compounds, (E)-(5)-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-ethyl-1, 2-isothiazolidine-1,1-dioxide (S-2474) was selected as an antiarthritic drug candidate and is now under clinical trials. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) examined and some pharmacological evaluations are described.

Differential effect of benexate hydrochloride betadex on prostaglandin levels in stomach and inflammatory site in rats.

We compared the effects of an anti-ulcer agent, benexate hydrochloride betadex (BHB), on prostaglandin (PG) levels in gastric tissue and inflammatory exudate in untreated and indomethacin-treated rats. BHB (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) showed dose-dependent inhibition of gastric mucosal lesions induced by indomethacin (30 mg/kg, p.o.). Sustained decrease of PGs (PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha)) in the gastric wall was observed from 0.5 to 6 hr after indomethacin treatment. BHB (300 and 1000 mg/kg) dose-dependently led to recovery of the indomethacin-induced decrease of gastric PGs at 1 and 6 hr after dosing. It did not antagonize the indomethacin-induced decrease of PG levels in the pleural exudate of carrageenin pleurisy nor did it affect the anti-inflammatory effects of indomethacin. BHB (100 to 1000 mg/kg) alone increased gastric PGE2 by 61% to 113%, while it decreased PGE2 levels in the pleural exudate by 9% to 71% at 6 hr after dosing. These results suggest that sustained increase of gastric PGE2 by BHB could be responsible for protection against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions and that BHB is a suitable anti-ulcer agent for NSAIDs without compromising their anti-inflammatory effects.

Effect of the selective thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, S-1452, on antigen-induced sustained bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Long-lasting bronchial hyperresponsiveness to i.v. acetylcholine was observed in actively sensitized guinea-pigs after aerosol ovalbumin exposure. The response became significant at 7 h post-challenge and persisted for at least 120 h compared to the response of unsensitized animals. Pretreatment of animals with the specific thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, S-1452 (calcium (1R,2S,3S,4S)-(5Z)-7-(((phenylsulfonyl)amino)bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-2-yl)hept-5-enoate dihydrate), almost completely inhibited the onset of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, as assessed at 24 and 120 h post-challenge. However, it was ineffective when administered at 1 h post-challenge or 2 h before assessment of bronchial responsiveness. Lung vascular injury occurred transiently immediately after antigen challenge, the kinetics of injury being associated with those for the production of thromboxane B2 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The vascular injury was dramatically suppressed by pretreatment with S-1452. These findings suggest that acutely generated thromboxane A2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of antigen-induced long-lasting bronchial hyperresponsiveness, probably by producing vascular damage in the lungs.

[Effect of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug 480156-S on hepatic drug-metabolizing activity and pharmacological action of diazepam and pentobarbital in rats].

Effect of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug 480156-S on liver drug-metabolizing activity was studied in rats, and its effect was compared with that of cimetidine. Cytochrome P-450-dependent 7-alkoxycoumarin O-dealkylase activity was not affected by a single administration of 480156-S, but the activity, especially the O-demethylase but not the O-depropylase, was suppressed dose-dependently by multiple administrations. Pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital caused a diminution of the inhibitory action of 480156-S. Treatment of rats with cimetidine resulted in a marked decrease in the activity, although it recovered 24 hr later. After the pretreatment of animals with 480156-S or reference drugs, the pharmacological action of diazepam was determined using muscle relaxation and inhibitions of electroshock-induced convulsion and pentetrazole-induced clonic convulsion as the indicators. Prolonged pharmacological activity of diazepam was observed when liver drug-metabolizing activity was lowered by the pretreatment. On the other hand, pentobarbital-induced anesthesia was prolonged by the pretreatment of rats with cimetidine, but the anesthesia was not modified by the administration of 480156-S. These results suggest the inhibitory action of 480156-S on a specific form(s) of P-450 isozyme.

Time course analyses of kinins and other mediators in plasma exudation of rat kaolin-induced pleurisy.

Pleurisy was induced in rats by an intrapleural injection of 0.5 ml of 1% kaolin. The exudation of plasma into the pleural cavity showed two peaks at 20 min and 3-5 h after the kaolin injection. The volume of the pleural fluid increased gradually up to 5 h. The effects of treatment with mepyramine, methysergide, captopril, bromelain and indomethacin suggested that the early phase (20 min) of exudation was mediated mainly by kinins, histamine and 5-HT, and that the late phase (3 h) was mediated by prostaglandins (PGs) and possibly kinins. We measured the levels of histamine, kinin and PG in the pleural exudate to verify the involvement of the mediators mentioned above. Intracellular histamine levels decreased markedly and extracellular histamine levels increased significantly 20 min after the induction of kaolin pleurisy. Only threshold levels of kinin were detected after the induction of pleurisy. Captopril treatment, however, increased kinin levels which peaked at 20 min and decreased rapidly thereafter. Levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2 showed a peak at 20 min, whereas levels of PGE2 increased gradually from 20 min to 5 h. These results indicate that kaolin-induced pleurisy is a kinin-related inflammation and could be used as a model for studying the in vivo interaction of the kallikrein-kinin system and PGs at inflammatory sites.

[Pharmacological studies of a new sleep-inducer, 1H-1,2,4-triazolyl benzophenone derivatives (450191-S) (I). Behavioral analysis].

The behavioral effects of 450191-S and its metabolites were investigated in mice, rats, cats and rhesus monkeys, and they were compared with those of related benzodiazepines (BDZ) such as diazepam and nitrazepam. Oral administration of 450191-S consistently caused sedation without excitability in mice and rats, and it was only 1/2 to 1/266 as potent as the BDZ in producing motor incoordination as assessed by traction, rotarod performance and inclined screen tests in mice, induced much less ataxia in cats and monkeys, and inhibited respiration in anesthetized cats. The locomotor activities of mice and rats measured by Animex and the open field test were not affected by 450191-S, but rearing and preening decreased with 450191-S as with the BDZ. 450191-S was equipotent with nitrazepam and 2 to 6 times more potent than diazepam and estazolam in potentiating chlorprothixene-induced hypnosis and thiopental-Na-induced anesthesia. These effects were not different with successive 14-day administration of 450191-S. Anti-pentylenetetrazol, picrotoxin and bicuculline convulsions of 450191-S had the same potency as nitrazepam, but caused much less anti-electroshock convulsion than the BDZ. 450191-S had potent antianxiety activity as observed by anti-aggressive and anti-conflict activities and had almost the same effect as diazepam on operant behavior. The metabolites M-1, M-2, M-A and M-3 showed approximately the same potency as 450191-S in inducing anesthetic potentiation and antianxiety activity, but they were much more potent in causing disturbance of the somatic functions. These results indicate that 450191-S possesses inhibitory effects on the central nervous system, including a potent sleep-inducing effect, and is characterized by markedly weak muscle relaxant activity and motor incoordination.

Pharmacological properties of 2-[4-(2-thiazolyloxy)-phenyl]-propionic acid (480156-S), a new non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent.

In terms of antiinflammatory activity in acute and chronic animal models, 2-[4-(2-thiazolyloxy)-phenyl]-propionic acid (480156-S) was more active than ibuprofen but inferior to indomethacin. The analgesic activities of 480156-S measured by the writhing method and the Randall & Selitto method were comparable or superior to those of indomethacin, diclofenac-Na and ketoprofen. 480156-S also had strong antagonistic action against bradykinin, markedly inhibiting all bradykinin-induced edema and pain reactions (tail licking in mice and flexor reflex of rabbit hind limb). On scald-induced pain in which bradykinin is greatly involved, 480156-S had an obviously stronger analgesic effect than any of the reference drugs. As for its effects on prostaglandin (PG), 480156-S weakly inhibited arachidonic acid-induced edema and pain reactions but also inhibited PGE2 synthesis of bovine vesicular gland microsomes.

Effects of proteases on the structure and activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A.

The effects of various proteases on the enzymatic or biological activity and structure of exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were systematically studied. The toxin was extremely resistant to treatment with various enzymes. The lethality of the toxin disappeared upon treatment with P. aeruginosa protease and elastase, thermolysin, and trypsin with a long incubation time (5h) in the presence of a high enzyme concentration (molar concentration of enzyme to toxin, 1:10 or 1:20), but was little altered by either alpha-chymotrypsin or subtilisin. The decrease of adenosine diphosphate ribosylation activity was moderate when the same treatment was used, regardless to the protease source, except in the case of papain, which was tested in the presence of reducing agents. The increase in activation of the treated toxin determined in the presence of a denaturant and a reducing agent was less than that of the intact toxin, except in the case of trypsin. The differences in disc and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electropherograms of the toxins treated with these proteases, except for those treated with papain, suggested that the toxins had been nicked by the protease, which resulted in their degradation by sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment. Papain degraded the toxin into fragments and caused the disappearance of lethality or a marked decrease of adenosine diphosphate ribosylation activity.

Pharmacology of 2-o-chlororbenzoyl-4-chloro-N-methyl-N alpha-glycylglycinanilide hydrate (45-0088-S), a compound with benzodiazepine-like properties.

2-o-Chlorobenzoyl-4-chloro-N-methyl-N alpha-glycylglycinanilide hydrate (45-0088-S), a dipeptido-aminobenzophenone compound, inhibited pentetrazole-induced convulsion and suppressed electroshock-induced fighting behavior in mice, reduced conflict behavior in rats and monkeys, and induced muscle relaxation in cats at lower doses than did diazepam. This pharmacological profile suggests that 45-0088-S can be an active, water-soluble antianxiety agent in man.

The pharmacology of 20681-S and 20682-S, 6-oxo-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinans, as narcotic antagonist analgesics.

It has been demonstrated that L-3hydroxy-6-oxo-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan methansulfonate (20681-S) and L-3,14-dihydroxy-6-oxo-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan methansulfonate (20682-S), have antinociceptive and narcotic antagonistic properties. In the rodent antinociceptive test, the action of 20681-S was more potent and of longer duration than that of morphine and of cyclazocine after subcutaneous or oral administration. The antinociceptive effect of 20682-S ranked between that of morphine and that of pentazocine in the mouse acetic acid-writhing test. Both compounds possessed potent narcotic antagonistic activities, 20682-S being more active than naloxone and oxilorphan and 20681-S being equipotent with cyclazocine. The latent side effects (respiratory depression and fall in blood pressure) and the acute toxicity of 20681-S and 20682-S, were less than those of reference narcotic antagonists or of narcotic antagonist analgesics.