Increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced hamster pancreatic carcinogenesis and prevention of cancer development by ONO-1714, an iNOS inhibitor.

Elevated protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been observed in human pancreatic cancers and therefore, iNOS may play important roles in pancreatic carcinogenesis. This was examined in the present study, using an experimental model with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP)-treated hamsters. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated iNOS expression in a hamster pancreatic cancer cell line as well as in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased expression of iNOS protein in atypical hyperplasia and ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas in BOP-treated hamsters. In addition, iNOS expression was also observed in macrophages and islet cells in pancreatic tissue surrounding tumors. In order to assess the role of iNOS expression in carcinogenesis in the pancreas, the effects of ONO-1714 [(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-chloro-3-imino-5-methyl-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane], an iNOS inhibitor, on hamster pancreatic ductal carcinogenesis were investigated. Female Syrian golden hamsters were treated with BOP at 10 mg/kg body wt, four times for 1 week, and 1 week after the last carcinogen treatment, ONO-1714 was administered at doses of 100 and 200 p.p.m. in the diet for 15 weeks. The incidences and multiplicities of atypical hyperplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma and total adenocarcinomas (non-invasive and invasive adenocarcinomas) in the pancreas were significantly lowered by treatment with 200 p.p.m. ONO-1714. Treatment with 100 p.p.m. ONO-1714 also significantly decreased the multiplicities of invasive and total adenocarcinomas. Moreover, treatment with 200 p.p.m. ONO-1714 reduced the number of BOP-induced cholangiocellular tumors. These results suggest that iNOS plays roles in promoting pancreatic carcinogenesis in both early and late stages in hamsters.

A specific inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, ONO-1714 attenuates inflammation-related large bowel carcinogenesis in male Apc(Min/+) mice.

It is generally assumed that inflammation influences carcinogenesis. We previously reported that dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) strongly enhances colon carcinogenesis in the Apc(Min/+) mice and the over-expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contributes to this enhancement. In the current study, we investigated the effect of a selective iNOS inhibitor, ONO-1714 on colitis-related colon carcinogenesis in the Apc(Min/+) mouse treated with DSS. Male C57BL/6J Apc(Min/+) and Apc(+/+) mice were exposed to 1% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days. ONO-1714 was given to the mice at a dose level of 50 or 100 ppm in diet for 5 weeks (during the administration of DSS). The tumor inhibitory effects by ONO-1714 were assessed at week 5 by counting the incidence and multiplicity of colonic neoplasms. Additionally, we assessed serum lipid levels and colonic mRNA expression for cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, iNOS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta. Feeding with ONO-1714 significantly inhibited the occurrence of colonic adenocarcinoma in a dose-dependent manner in the Apc(Min/+) mice. In addition, the treatment with ONO-1714 significantly lowered the serum triglyceride levels and mRNA expression levels of COX-2, TNFalpha and IL-1beta of colonic mucosa in the DSS-treated Apc(Min/+) mice. Neither ONO-1714 nor DSS affected the colonic pathology in the Apc(+/+) mice. Our findings may suggest that ONO-1714 could therefore serve as an effective agent for suppression of colitis-related colon cancer development in the Apc(Min/+) mice.

The proteinase inhibitor camostat mesilate suppresses pancreatic pain in rodents.

Camostat mesilate, an orally available proteinase inhibitor, is clinically used for treatment of pancreatitis. Given recent evidence that pancreatic proteinases including trypsin and/or proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) might be involved in pancreatic pain, we examined if camostat mesilate could suppress spinal Fos expression, a marker for neuronal activation, following specific application of trypsin to the pancreas, and pancreatitis-related referred allodynia. Trypsin, administered into the pancreatic duct, caused delayed expression of Fos proteins in the superficial layer of the bilateral T8 and T9 spinal dorsal horns in rats. The trypsin-induced spinal Fos expression was completely abolished by oral pre-administration of camostat mesilate at 300 mg/kg. After hourly repeated (6 times in total) administration of caerulein, mice showed typical symptoms of pancreatitis, accompanied by mechanical allodynia in the upper abdomen (i.e., referred hyperalgesia/allodynia), as assessed by use of von Frey filaments. Camostat mesilate at 100-300 mg/kg, given orally twice before the 1st and 4th doses of caerulein, abolished the pancreatitis-related abdominal allodynia, while it partially prevented the inflammatory signs. The same doses of camostat mesilate, when administered once after the final dose of caerulein, also revealed significant anti-allodynic effect. These data suggest that camostat mesilate prevents and/or depresses pancreatitis-induced pain and/or referred hyperalgesia/allodynia, in which proteinases including trypsin would play a critical role.

Arundic Acid ameliorates cerebral amyloidosis and gliosis in Alzheimer transgenic mice.

Like microglia, reactive astrocytes produce a myriad of neurotoxic substances in various brain pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), trauma, and cerebral ischemia. Among the numerous products of reactive astrocytes, attention has recently been directed toward the possible detrimental role of S100B, because the protein has been shown to be highly expressed along with the progression of brain damage and to exert neurotoxic effects at high concentrations. The present study aimed to examine the possible role of astrocyte-derived S100B in the progression of cerebral amyloidosis and gliosis in transgenic mice overproducing mutant amyloid precursor protein (Tg APP(sw) mice, line 2576). For this purpose, arundic acid (Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mishima, Osaka, Japan), which is known to negatively regulate astrocyte synthesis of S100B, was orally administered to Tg APP(sw) mice for 6 months from 12 months of age, and the effects of the agent on the above parameters were examined. Here, we report that beta-amyloid deposits along with amyloid-beta peptide/S100B levels, as well as beta-amyloid plaque-associated reactive gliosis (astrocytosis and microgliosis), were significantly ameliorated in arundic acid-treated Tg APP(sw) mice relative to vehicle-treated Tg APP(sw) mice at 19 months of age. Based on the above results, arundic acid is considered to deserve further exploration as a promising therapeutic agent for AD.

Suppressive effect of an inducible nitric oxide inhibitor, ONO-1714, on AOM-induced rat colon carcinogenesis.

The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is markedly elevated in rat colon cancers induced by azoxymethane (AOM). In addition, iNOS can be detected in most adenomas and dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF), suggesting that iNOS plays an important role in colon carcinogenesis. In the present study, the effect of an iNOS inhibitor, ONO-1714 ((1S,5S,6R,7R)-7-chloro-3-imino-5-methyl-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0] heptane hydrochloride), on AOM-induced rat colon carcinogenesis was investigated. Male F344 rats were treated with 15 mg/kg body weight of AOM once a week, for 2 weeks. ONO-1714 was given to the rats at doses of 10, 20, 50, and 100 ppm in diet for 4 weeks from the day before the first carcinogen treatment. The number of AOM-induced ACF in the rats receiving 10, 20, 50 and 100 ppm ONO-1714 were 94, 73 (P < 0.05), 71 (P < 0.005), and 53% (P < 0.0005), respectively, of the control value. Moreover, the mean number of aberrant crypts per focus was significantly lowered in 100 ppm ONO-1714 group (P < 0.05). Then, the effects of long-term treatment (32 weeks) with 50 and 100 ppm ONO-1714 on AOM-induced colorectal tumor development were examined. Although incidences and multiplicities of colon tumors did not significantly differ among the groups, number of tumors developing in the middle part of colon were reduced with both 50 and 100 ppm doses (P < 0.05). Furthermore, colon tumor volume tended to be decreased by ONO-1714 treatment, and the number of colon tumors more than 3mm in diameter was significantly lowered in the 100 ppm ONO-1714 group (P < 0.01). These results suggest that iNOS plays roles in both early and late stages of colon carcinogenesis.

Mitochondrial impairment induced by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 activation in cortical neurons after oxygen and glucose deprivation.

Neuronal cells injured by ischemia and reperfusion to a certain extent are committed to death in necrotic or apoptotic form. Necrosis is induced by gross ATP depletion or 'energy crisis' of the cell, whereas apoptosis is induced by a mechanism still to be defined in detail. Here, we investigated this mechanism by focusing on a DNA damage-sensor, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). A 2-h oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation (Reox) induced apoptosis, rather than necrosis, in rat cortical neurons. During the Reox, PARP-1 was much activated and autopoly(ADP-ribosyl)ated, consuming the substrate, NAD+. Induction of apoptosis by OGD/Reox was suppressed by overexpression of Bcl-2, indicating mitochondrial impairment in this induction process. Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), or membrane depolarization, and a release of proapoptotic proteins, i.e. cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor and endonuclease G, from mitochondria were observed during the Reox. These apoptotic changes of mitochondria and the nucleus were attenuated by PARP-1 inhibitors, 1,5-dihydroxyisoquinoline and benzamide, and also by small interfering RNA specific for PARP-1. These results indicated that PARP-1 plays a principal role in inducing mitochondrial impairment that ultimately leads to apoptosis of neurons after cerebral ischemia.

Neuroprotective effects of ONO-1924H, an inhibitor of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), on cytotoxicity of PC12 cells and ischemic cerebral damage.

N-[3-(4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-phthalazin-1-yl)phenyl]-4-(morpholin-4-yl) butanamide methanesulfonate monohydrate (ONO-1924H) is a novel inhibitor of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). In this study, we examined the effects of ONO-1924H on cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide in PC12 cells in vitro and cerebral damage and neurological deficits induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) thrombus occlusion in vivo in rat. In the in vitro cytotoxicity assay, exposure to 0.5 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide induced cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. ONO-1924H, a PARP inhibitor (Ki=0.21 micromol/L), reduced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner that was correlated with inhibition of PARP activation. A 50% reduction in cell death (EC50) was achieved with 2.4 micromol/L ONO-1924H. In the MCA occlusion model, ONO-1924H was injected intravenously at doses of 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg/h for 3 h, and cerebral damage and neurological deficits were estimated 24 h after MCA occlusion. ONO-1924H treatment led to a significant decrease in cerebral damage in the 10 mg/kg/h-treated group (P < 0.05) and the 30 mg/kg/h-treated group (P < 0.01). Further, ONO-1924H at doses of 30 mg/kg/h significantly (P < 0.05) improved neurological deficits. These findings suggest that the novel PARP inhibitor, ONO-1924H, affords effective neuroprotection and is a useful therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

The potent inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor ONO-1714 inhibits neuronal NOS and exerts antinociception in rats.

We evaluated if ONO-1714, known as an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, could inhibit neuronal NOS (nNOS) and exert antinociception. ONO-1714 potently inhibited both crude rat cerebellar NOS and recombinant human nNOS in vitro. Systemic ONO-1714 at 1-10 mg/kg suppressed carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in rats, an effect being equivalent to the antinociception caused by L-NAME or 7-nitroindazole at 25 mg/kg. The same doses of ONO-1714 also caused hypertension. Intrathecal (i.t.) ONO-1714 potently reduced the hyperalgesia, the effective dose range (0.2-0.6 microg/rat) being much lower than the antinociceptive dose (150 microg/rat) of i.t. L-NAME. Thus, ONO-1714 is considered a potent inhibitor of nNOS in addition to iNOS. The distinct relative antinociceptive activities of systemic and i.t. ONO-1714 are attributable to its possible poor blood-brain barrier permeability.

Modulation of capsaicin-evoked visceral pain and referred hyperalgesia by protease-activated receptors 1 and 2.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) 1 and 2 are expressed in capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons, being anti- and pro-nociceptive, respectively. Given the possible cross talk between PAR-2 and capsaicin receptors, we investigated if PAR-2 activation could facilitate capsaicin-evoked visceral pain and referred hyperalgesia in the mouse and also examined the effect of PAR-1 activation in this model. Intracolonic (i.col.) administration of capsaicin triggered visceral pain-related nociceptive behavior, followed by referred hyperalgesia. The capsaicin-evoked visceral nociception was suppressed by intraperitoneal (i.p.) TFLLR-NH2, a PAR-1-activating peptide, but not FTLLR-NH2, a control peptide, and unaffected by i.col. TFLLR-NH2. SLIGRL-NH2, a PAR-2-activating peptide, but not LRGILS-NH2, a control peptide, administered i.col., facilitated the capsaicin-evoked visceral nociception 6-18 h after administration, while i.p. SLIGRL-NH2 had no effect. The capsaicin-evoked referred hyperalgesia was augmented by i.col. SLIGRL-NH2, but not LRGILS-NH2, 6-18 h after administration, and unaffected by i.p. SLIGRL-NH2, and i.p. or i.col. TFLLR-NH2. Our data suggest that PAR-1 is antinociceptive in processing of visceral pain, whereas PAR-2 expressed in the colonic luminal surface, upon activation, produces delayed sensitization of capsaicin receptors, resulting in facilitation of visceral pain and referred hyperalgesia.

Effect of a potent iNOS inhibitor (ONO-1714) on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in the rat.

Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) in the liver has been implicated as an important event in endotoxin shock and in other models of hepatic inflammation and injury. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ONO-1714, a potent and specific inhibitor of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in the rats. Oral administration of ONO-1714 dose-dependently inhibited NOx (NO2- and NO3-) accumulation in rat plasma after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Intraperitoneal acetaminophen at 1 g/kg caused damage to the centrilobular regions of the liver and increase in serum alanine and aspartate transaminase (ALT and AST, respectively) levels accompanied by elevated plasma NOx levels after 24 h. Oral administration of ONO-1714 at 10 and 100 microg/kg dose-dependently reduced the acetaminophen-induced hepatic tissue damage and the increases in serum ALT and AST levels. ONO-1714 also blocked the increase in plasma NOx concentrations. These findings demonstrate that oral ONO-1714, an iNOS inhibitor, protects against acetaminophen-evoked hepatic inflammation/injury, strongly suggesting that NO produced by iNOS plays a key role in the pathogenesis of this drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

Transfection of K-rasAsp12 cDNA markedly elevates IL-1beta- and lipopolysaccharide-mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in rat intestinal epithelial cells.

Activating mutations of K-ras are frequent in colon tumors and aberrant crypt foci, and may play important roles in colon carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the effects of a K-ras codon 12 mutation on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. When rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) were transfected with K-rasAsp12 cDNA, the iNOS expression linked to interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment was markedly increased and prolonged. In contrast, it was only very faint and transient in cells transfected with the control vector or K-rasWT. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays demonstrated that NF-kappaB binding activity induced by IL-1beta or LPS was also increased in K-rasAsp12-transfected cells, along with the binding of CREB-1, CREM-1, ATF-1, ATF-2, and Jun D to a cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-like site and the binding of C/EBPbeta to a C/EBP-binding consensus site. Furthermore, the anchorage-independent growth of K-rasAsp12-transfected cells was markedly increased by IL-1beta or LPS treatment, and decreased by ONO-1714, an iNOS inhibitor. In addition, tumor growth in nude mice injected with K-rasAsp12-transfected cells was significantly suppressed by NOS inhibition with 50 p.p.m. ONO-1714 or 100 p.p.m. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester. These results suggest that an activating mutation of K-ras can markedly enhance the iNOS expression mediated by IL-1beta or LPS, through the activation of promoters on NF-kappaB, C/EBP, and CRE-like sites, and that nitric oxide contributes to the colony formation and tumor growth of K-ras-transformed cells.