Liarozole potentiates the all-trans-retinoic acid-induced structural remodelling in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells in vitro.

Liarozole inhibits cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes that play a key role in all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) catabolism. In MCF-7 cells, liarozole potentiates the antiproliferative effects of ATRA. The present study demonstrates this synergistic effect on cell differentiation of MCF-7 cell cultures as measured by immunocytochemistry for cytokeratins 8, 18, and 19, actin, E-cadherin, desmoglein and desmoplakins I & II. ATRA concentration-dependently (10(-8) M-10(-6) M) induced changes in actin stress fibers and cytokeratin intermediate filaments. These changes were accompanied by a more obvious interaction of these filaments with junctional complexes. Surface area and volume of the MCF-7 cells increased markedly after ATRA exposure, with extensive filopodia formation. Liarozole (10(-6) M) alone had no effect on cell morphology, cytokeratin or actin organization, or on cellular junctions. In combination with ATRA (10(-9) M and 10(-8) M), liarozole potentiated the ATRA-induced effects. The MCF-7 cell cultures used showed morphological heterogeneity, consisting of at least two cellular subpopulations. This was reflected in the staining for E-cadherin, desmoglein and desmoplakins I & II. ATRA increased E-cadherin staining at cell-cell contact sites, but had no influence on the staining patterns of desmoglein and desmoplakins I & II. Similar to what has been observed for the cytoskeletal differentiation parameters, liarozole alone had no influence on E-cadherin, desmoglein or desmoplakins I & II expression, but in combination with ATRA again intensified the effects on E-cadherin distribution. These effects on MCF-7 cells agree with previously obtained observations concerning the inhibition of ATRA catabolism by liarozole. Furthermore, our data support the hypothesis that the antiproliferative properties of the drug are accompanied by induction of differentiation.

Oral itraconazole versus topical bifonazole treatment in experimental dermatophytosis.

Guinea pigs, infected with either Trichophyton mentagrophytes or Microsporum canis, were treated orally or topically with azole antifungals daily for two weeks. Fungi located in the stratum corneum were affected similarly by both treatment schedules, showing typical cell wall changes after azole exposure and necrosis of internal organelles. Fungi located in the hair sheaths were affected only by the oral treatment, which not only prevented invasion of the inner hair structures and inflammatory responses but also led to a complete clearance of the infection within 7 days. Topically applied azole treatment was not able to injure fungi in the hair sheaths and did not suppress invasion into the hair shafts. These observations are in favour of oral antifungal medication with azoles for the treatment of dermatophyte infections involving hairy skin.

Effects of itraconazole on phagocytosis and killing of Candida glabrata by polymorphonuclear leucocytes from guinea pigs.

Itraconazole, a systemically active antifungal, was tested for its effects on microscopically assessed phagocytosis and killing of Candida glabrata 233 in vitro. Yeast cells were exposed to itraconazole in culture and guinea-pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leucocytes were exposed to the drug injected intraperitoneally in vivo. At a concentration of 10(-7) M and with exposure times of 1 h, itraconazole pre-treatment of the leucocytes had no effect on the ability of PMNL to ingest or kill C. glabrata. However, pre-treatment of the growing C. glabrata cells under the same conditions significantly increased their vulnerability to both phagocytosis and intracellular killing. Longer exposures of the yeasts to itraconazole further increased their susceptibility to leucocyte phagocytosis, and it also rendered the cells vulnerable to killing merely by immersion in sodium deoxycholate solution. These findings indicate that short exposures of C. glabrata to low itraconazole concentrations damages the cells sublethally and renders them highly susceptible to leucocyte killing. Itraconazole had no direct effects on leucocyte function itself.

The effects of saperconazole on the morphology of Candida albicans, Pityrosporum ovale and Trichophyton rubrum in vitro.

Fungal cultures were incubated for various periods of time with saperconazole at concentrations ranging from 10(-10) to 10(-5) M: Candida albicans (4 and 24 h), Pityrosporum ovale (2 and 7 days), and Trichophyton rubrum (1, 2, 3, 7 and 14 days). At the end of the incubation period, fungal morphology was compared with that of control cultures by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In all three species, major ultrastructural changes were seen from concentrations of 10(-8) to 10(-7) M saperconazole onwards, depending on the species and time of incubation. The main changes were inhibition of hyphal outgrowth (C. albicans), abortive hyphal outgrowth (T. rubrum) and deposition of electron-dense vesicles in a thickened cell wall (C. albicans, T. rubrum). In P. ovale, a direct, necrotizing action was seen without concomitant wall changes.

Beta-cyclodextrins as vehicles in eye-drop formulations: an evaluation of their effects on rabbit corneal epithelium.

Beta-cyclodextrins are cyclic molecules with a hydrophilic outer side and a central hydrophobic cavity. Through the inclusion of drug molecules into their cavities, i.e. the formation of inclusion complexes, cyclodextrins are able to modify the physical and chemical properties of these molecules. When used in pharmaceutical formulations, they can improve the aqueous solubility, stability, dissolution rate, bioavailability and/or local tolerance of certain drugs. To make an initial evaluation of the potential use of beta-cyclodextrins as vehicles in ophthalmic eye-drop formulations, we studied the effect of a single and of multiple applications of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) 12.5% and of dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CD) 5 and 12.5% solutions on the corneal epithelium of albino and pigmented rabbits with slit lamp biomicroscopy (SLB) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We can conclude from this study that DM-beta-CD at concentrations of 5 and 12.5% is not a suitable vehicle for ophthalmic formulations since it is toxic to the corneal epithelium and that HP-beta-CD at a concentration of 12.5% is well tolerated by the rabbit eye and is not toxic to the corneal epithelium when evaluated by SLB and SEM.

Functional expression of the amplification reaction between serotonin and epinephrine on platelets.

Human platelet reactions are enhanced when a combination of serotonin and epinephrine is used as a stimulus. The amplification of the response operates through S2-serotonergic and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes. The first wave of platelet aggregation, which is independent of platelet release products, is enhanced while the latency period for the occurrence of release reaction and prostaglandin biosynthesis is shortened. Synergism between serotonin and epinephrine on the platelet occurs at low concentration of agonists and may contribute to the formation of an arterial thrombus in vivo.

Effects of ketanserin, a selective 5-HT2 serotonergic antagonist, on the secondary recruitment of human platelets in vitro.

Ketanserin, a selective 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor antagonist, reduces in vitro the release-associated human platelet aggregation induced by threshold concentrations of collagen and curtails the second wave of aggregation/release induced by critical concentrations of ADP in particular and, to a lesser extent, of 1-epinephrine. Its inhibitory effect on the second waves becomes more pronounced when the reaction is already attenuated by moderate cyclo-oxygenase inhibition with esculetin, by yohimbine or by propranolol. The first wave of aggregation induced by ADP or 1-epinephrine is not affected. Such an inhibition of secondary platelet recruitment by ketanserin in vitro may be due to an inhibition of the 5-HT2 receptor-mediated amplifying effects of platelet-released 5-HT or to a non-specific interference with the platelet membrane, reducing the release of mediators from the platelets. Reduction of the increased plasma BTG levels in patients after ketanserin may result from such release-inhibiting mechanisms.

Dependence of the antagonism at human platelet 5-HT2 receptors by ketanserin on the reaction pH.

The potency for the inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced human platelet aggregation by ketanserin, pipamperone, spiperone, cyproheptadine and BW 501 in vitro decreased as the reaction pH increased progressively from 7.4 to 8.6, the largest shift (X 1125) in IC50 value (pH 7.4: 4 X 10(-9) M; pH 8.6: 4.5 X 10(-6) M) being found for ketanserin. With such an alkaline pH-shift, the fraction of the ionized form of the drugs decreased, reduction of the inhibitory capacity and of the ionized fraction being strongly correlated. Ketanserin (40 mg orally, - 15 h) in human volunteers, completely inhibited the 5-HT-induced platelet aggregation measured ex vivo, when tested at a reaction pH of 7.4; without gassing with CO2 5% -O2 95%, the plasma pH became alkaline and the inhibitory potency of the drug was strongly reduced (-60%). This study demonstrates the importance of the reaction pH for the aggregation of human platelets induced by 5-HT and its inhibition by ketanserin.

Biochemical mechanisms in 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced human platelet aggregation.

The activation of human platelets by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is not accompanied by detectable release of ATP or TXB2. The process is unaffected by cyclooxygenase, thromboxane synthetase or combined cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibition (suprofen, indomethacin, R 19091, dazoxiben, N.D.G.A, BW755C, esculetin), indicating the absence of involvement of arachidonic acid metabolites. Transmembrane Ca2+-entry blockers (flunarizine, nifedipine, nimodipine) have no effect either, indicating that the activator calcium released by 5-HT comes from intracellular stores. The 5-HT-induced platelet activation is inhibited by stimulators of adenylate cyclase (PGE1, PGE2, isoprenaline, adenosine) and inhibitors of cAMP phosphodiesterase (papaverine, anagrelide, RA233), indicating that also for this type of platelet activation cAMP behaves as a unidirectional, inhibitory regulator.

Continuous inhibition of platelet S2-serotonergic receptors during chronic administration of ketanserin in humans.

Platelet aggregation induced by serotonin in plasma obtained from 9 volunteers was inhibited at 90 min and 15 h after the oral administration of ketanserin, either acutely or after one week of chronic administration. At 7 days after the last dose, a transient overreaction to serotonin occurred. Platelet reactions to epinephrine, collagen and adenosine diphosphate were not affected by ketanserin. The present results demonstrate a continuous inhibition of S2-serotonergic receptors in platelets during both acute and chronic treatment with ketanserin in humans.

Evidence for functional 5-HT2 receptor sites on human blood platelets.

The aggregation of normal human platelets by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is the result of a specific interaction of the monoamine with a platelet receptor since it is not influenced by adrenergic receptor blockade, inhibition of fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase or ADP-scavenging. The 5-HT induced platelet reaction is inhibited in a concentration-dependent way by various serotonergic antagonists; the potency of these compounds in this respect correlates strongly with their potential to inhibit the specific binding of [3H] ketanserin, a selective label for 5-HT2 binding sites, to rat prefrontal cortex and striatum and to cat platelet membranes. This study thus provides evidence for a functional role as true receptor initiating a physiological response of the 5-HT2 receptor on human platelets.

The involvement of 5-HT2-receptor sites in the activation of cat platelets.

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) induces a concentration-dependent aggregation/release of/by cat platelets (Km = 6.2 x 10(-7) M); this activation is inhibited (Ki = 5.24 x 10(-9) M) or reversed by ketanserin, a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist. Comparison of the inhibition of specific [3H] ketanserin binding to cat platelet membranes and rat pre-frontal cortex membranes with that of 5-HT-induced aggregation of cat platelets obtained with various drugs, displaying various receptor binding profiles, reveals a highly significant correlation between the ligand binding and the physiological response (Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0.92 and r = 0.91 respectively, p less than 0.0001; n = 14); inhibition of platelet activation by 5-HT and of uptake of 5-HT are not correlated. Secondary aggregation induced by ADP as well as collagen-induced aggregation are inhibited by the 5-HT receptor antagonists suggesting a primary role of 5-HT in the secondary platelet recruitment subsequent to a release reaction. This study demonstrates a functional role for the 5-HT2 receptors in the primary activation of the platelets by 5-HT and in the secondary aggregation induced by other agonists, especially in platelets superreactive to 5-HT2 receptor activation.

Localization of calcium in red blood cells.

The distribution of calcium is demonstrated in human red blood cells (RBC) with a combined phosphate-pyroantimonate technique (PPA). Freshly collected blood and tissue biopsies were initially fixed in potassium phosphate-glutaraldehyde and the complexed calcium was subsequently visualized on Vibratome sections with potassium pyroantimonate. The majority of cells, both in isolated as well as "in situ" preparations, show a fine granular precipitate located at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. A minority of cells lack these membrane-associated deposits, exhibiting instead a random distribution of very fine precipitate in their cytoplasm. Capillary endothelial cells and pericytes are devoid of plasma membrane-bound precipitate. When irreversible crenation of RBC is induced by exposure to ionophore A 23187 and calcium, the sphero-echinocytes loose their membrane-bound precipitate, whereas the cells that retain their discocyte shape demonstrate the usual pattern of membrane-bound deposits. Contrarily, cells showing reversible shape changes induced by either A 23187-Ca2+ challenge, by adenosine triphosphate depletion during aging, or contact with lysolecithin, retain or regain the membrane-bound calcium. This cytochemical demonstrable calcium at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane is probably bound to acidic phospholipids, since it is readily extractable with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100.

Platelet activation by endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine released by mast cell degranulation with compound 48/80 in the rat.

The intravenous injection of the mast cell degranulator C 48/80 (1 mg/kg) in rats did not produce thrombocytopenia nor circulating platelet aggregates but sensitized the platelets to aggregate upon turbulence challenge. Such turbulence-induced platelet aggregation was not accompanied by formation of thromboxane B2. Electron microscopy revealed absence of platelet degranulation. Turbulence-induced platelet aggregation was completely prevented by pre-treatment of the rats with cyproheptadine, dipyridamole and VK 774, partially with ketanserin (5HT2-receptor antagonist), but not with methysergide (antiserotonergic drug), pyrilamine (antihistaminic drug), suprofen, aspirin (cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors), phentolamine, propranolol, flunarizine, lidoflazine, oxycoumarin or Trasylol. Combined treatment with the anti-histaminic drug pyrilamine and the 5HT2-receptor antagonist ketanserin resulted in a dose-related inhibition for ketanserin of the turbulence-induced platelet aggregation. These experiments point to an interaction between histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the platelet activation by mast cell released mediators.

Enhanced platelet turnover and prostaglandin production in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The anti-hypertensive effect of ketanserin, a selective 5-HT2 antagonist, both in experimental and human pathology (1,2) could implicate the blood platelets as a source for peripherally available 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), acting to increase peripheral vascular resistance (3). Therefore we examined various blood platelet parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats in comparison with normotensive Wistar rats.