endothelin-1 and baicalein

Oxygen promotes closure of the ductus arteriosus at birth. We have previously presented a scheme for oxygen action with a cytochrome P450 (CYP450) hemoprotein and endothelin-1 (ET-1) being, respectively, sensor and effector, and a hypothetical monooxygenase product serving as a coupling link. We have also found in the vessel arachidonic acid (AA) 12(S)-lipoxygenase (12-lipoxygenase) undergoing upregulation at birth. Here, we examined the feasibility of a sensor-to-effector messenger originating from AA monooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase pathways. The epoxygenase inhibitor, N-methylsulfonyl-6-(2-)hexanamide, suppressed the tonic contraction of ductus to oxygen. A similar effect was obtained with 12-lipoxygenase inhibitors baicalein and PD 146176. By contrast, none of the inhibitors modified the endothelin-1 contraction. Furthermore, an AA ω-hydroxylation product, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), reportedly responsible for oxygen contraction in the systemic microvasculature, had no such effect on the ductus. We conclude that AA epoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase jointly produce a hitherto uncharacterized compound acting as oxygen messenger in the ductus.

Topics: Amides; Animals; Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2J2; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ductus Arteriosus; Endothelin-1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fetus; Flavanones; Fluorenes; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Oxygen; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Signal Transduction; Thromboxane A2; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasodilator Agents

We investigated the antiproliferative effects of baicalein, isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis (Huang-qin), on ET-1-mediated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation and the mechanisms underlying these effects.. Intrapulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were isolated and cultured from female Sprague-Dawley rats and used during passages 3-6. The proliferation of PASMCs was quantified by cell counting and XTT assay. The protein expression of TRPC1 and PKCα were determined by western blotting. The cell cycle pattern was assayed by flow cytometry. The intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) were measured using the fluorescent indicator fura-2-AM and flow cytometry.. Baicalein (0.3-3 μM) inhibited PASMCs proliferation, promoted cell cycle progression, enhanced [Ca(2+)](i) levels, increased capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE), upregulated the canonical transient receptor potential 1 (TRPC1) channel and membrane protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression induced by ET-1 (0.1 μM). The PKC activator PMA (1 μM) reversed the inhibitory effects of baicalein on ET-1-induced upregulation of TRPC1 expression and S phase accumulation, while the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (1 μM) potentiated baicalein-mediated G(2)/M phase arrest and TRPC1 channel inhibition.. Our findings suggest that baicalein protects against ET-1-induced PASMCs proliferation via modulation of the PKC-mediated TRPC channel.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Endothelin-1; Female; Flavanones; Flow Cytometry; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Protein Kinase C-alpha; Pulmonary Artery; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Scutellaria baicalensis; TRPC Cation Channels

Endothelins (ETs) are a family of three peptides (ET-1, ET-2, ET-3) that are implicated in the physiological control of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and myocardial contractility and growth. ET-1 is vasoactive peptide that acts via ET-A receptors coupling inducing vascular smooth muscle cell contraction. ET-1 is involved in the development and maintenance of hypertension. Aim of this study was to investigate whether ET-1 can induce vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation through arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites formed via cytochrome P¬450 (CYP-450). VSMC proliferation was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation in cultured cells treated by ET-1 (10 to l00 nmol/L) in presence of different inhibitors of CYP-450 (17-ODYA 5 μmol/L), lipoxygenase (LO) (baicalein 20 μmol/L) and cyclooxygenase (COX) (indomethacin 5 μmol/L). ET-1 (10 to 100 nmol/L) induced VSMC proliferation and this effect was attenuated by CYP-450 inhibitor (17-ODYA) and lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitor (baicalein) but not by cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor (indomethacin). CYP-450 and LO metabolites of AA, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and 12-HETE increased [3H]thymidine incorporation in VSMC. Inhibitors of MAP kinase (PD-98059 50 μmol/L) and cPLA2 (MAFP 50 μmol/L) attenuated ET-1 as well as 20-HETE induced VSMC proliferation. These results suggest AA metabolites via CYP-450 mediates ET-1 induce VSMC proliferation.

Topics: 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; DNA; Endothelin-1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flavanones; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Indomethacin; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Rats; Receptors, Phospholipase A2; Thymidine

Baicalein is a flavonoid extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a medicinal plant traditionally used in Oriental medicine. Among its biological activities, baicalein has been reported to exhibit antioxidant effects. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasopressor synthesized by endothelial cells both in culture and in vivo. The aims of this study were to test the hypothesis that baicalein may alter strain-induced ET-1 secretion and to identify the putative underlying signaling pathways in endothelial cells. We show that baicalein inhibited strain-induced ET-1 secretion. Baicalein also inhibited strain-increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation. Using a reporter gene assay, baicalein and the antioxidant Trolox also attenuated the strain-stimulated activator protein-1 (AP-1) reporter activity. We conclude that baicalein inhibits strain-induced ET-1 gene expression, partially by interfering with the ERK pathway via attenuation of ROS formation. These results highlight the molecular pathways that may contribute to the beneficial effects of baicalein in the vascular system such as stroke prevention.

Topics: Antioxidants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelin-1; Endothelium, Vascular; Flavanones; Humans; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Reactive Oxygen Species; Scutellaria baicalensis; Stress, Mechanical; Umbilical Veins

The plasma expression levels of ET-1, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, vWF at different time after cerebral ischemia were assayed for observing the effects of baicalin, jasminoidin, cholalic acid, hydrolysis fluid of nacre and the combined prescription (CP) on cerebral vasoconstriction and endothelial cells in MCAO rats.. The plasma levels of ET-1, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha in MCAO rats were detected by the method of RIA and the plasma expressions of vWF were observed by ELISA.. The levels of ET-1, TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha and vWF all increased at different time after cerebral ischemia, so do TXB2 at 12 hours after ischemia. The expression of 6-keto-PGF1alpha significantly reduced at different time point after ischemia in MCAO rat. There were no significant changes after medicine treating 12 hours except baicalin's increasing 6-keto-PGF1alpha level. Jasminoidin and CP significantly reduced the expression of ET-1 at 24 hours after ischemia, so do all effective components except CP on expression of TXB2 at 12 hours after ischemia. The expression of TXB2 was significantly decreased by baicalin and CP at 24 hours after cerebral ischemia. Both baicalin and cholalic acid significantly increased the expression of 6-keto-PGF1alpha at 12 hours after ischemia while cholalic acid and hydrolysis fluid of nacre increased its level after ischemia for 24 hours. TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha ratio was reduced distinctively by baicalin, jasminoidin, cholalic acid, CP at the point of 12 hours, while decreased by baicalin and CP, and increased by jasmionoidin at the point of 24 hours. On the other hand, baicalin, hydrolysis fluid of nacre significantly reduced and jasminoidin increased the expression of vWF at the point of 12 hours. At the point of 24 hours, expression of vWF reduced by hydrolysis fluid of nacre and increased by baicalin.. The higher plasma expression of ET-1, TXA2 in plasma aggravated cerebral vasoconstriction and damaged endothelial cells. At the same time, the effective components of "Qing Kai Ling" inhibit the expression of ET-1 , TXA2 and reduce both TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha ratio and level of vWF. As a result, they relax cerebral microvessel and protect endothelial cells by different pathway at different target points.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Animals; Brain Ischemia; Cholic Acid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Endothelial Cells; Endothelin-1; Endothelium, Vascular; Flavanones; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thromboxane B2; Time Factors; von Willebrand Factor

In the rat isolated perfused kidney, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, an inhibitor of all pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, diminished endothelin-1 (ET-1)- and angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced renal vasoconstriction by approximately 60-70%. We then examined the individual contribution of each oxygenase, cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cytochrome P-450 (CYP) to the vasoconstrictor effects of ET-1 and ANG II. Inhibition of COX with indomethacin reduced by 30-40% the vasoconstrictor responses to ET-1 and ANG II. Inhibition of 12-LOX with baicalein and 5- and 12-LOX with 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid attenuated ANG II-induced renal vasoconstriction by approximately 40-60% but did not affect responses to ET-1. In contrast, 12,12-dibromododec-11-enoic acid (DBDD), an inhibitor of the CYP omega/omega 1-hydroxylase pathway, diminished ET-1-induced renal vasoconstriction by 30-40%, an effect reproduced by depletion of CYP enzymes with CoCl2. Neither DBDD nor CoCl2 affected renal vasoconstriction elicited by ANG II. ET-1 increased efflux of 19- and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, an effect reduced by DBDD. Thus products of the COX and CYP pathways contribute to the renal vasoconstrictor response to ET-1, whereas COX- and LOX-derived eicosanoids contribute to the response to ANG II, accounting for > or = 80% of the vasoactivity of the peptides.

Topics: 5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid; Angiotensin II; Animals; Arachidonic Acids; Cobalt; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Endothelin-1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flavanones; Flavonoids; Indomethacin; Lipoxygenase; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Male; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Renal Circulation; Vasoconstriction