aprepitant and Disease-Models--Animal

Depression and anxiety are among the most common diseases in the United States, thus constituting a substantial financial burden for the health care system. Experimental studies of these affective disorders to date have largely focused on the neurotransmitter pathways with well-established pathophysiologic roles, such as serotonergic, noradrenergic, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic systems; agents modulating the activity of these pathways are known to be clinically effective. More recently, the neuropeptide substance P (SP) and its receptor (the neurokinin-1 receptor [NK1R]) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of affective disorders, including depression. Earlier preclinical and clinical studies, though, did not provide a clear consensus on the role of SP in the regulation of affective behavior and related pathologic conditions. Recent studies in mice clearly demonstrate that both the genetic disruption and acute pharmacologic blockade of the NK1R result in marked reduction in anxiety-like behavior and stress-related responses. In parallel with these behavioral effects, physiologic changes, such as an increased firing rate of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal raphe nuclei and a desensitization of presynaptic 5-HT1A inhibitory autoreceptors, were observed. These findings provide further evidence for the regulatory role of the SP-NK1R system in modulation of affective behavior and indicate that its effects are mediated, at least in part, via the serotonergic system. Future studies will attempt to delineate the interaction between the SP-NK1R system and various neurotransmitter pathways in greater detail and to address the specific role(s) of this system in different brain regions.

Topics: Affect; Animals; Anxiety Disorders; Aprepitant; Autoreceptors; Behavior, Animal; Corticosterone; Diazepam; Disease Models, Animal; Feeding Behavior; Locus Coeruleus; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Morpholines; Motor Activity; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Neurons; Norepinephrine; Raphe Nuclei; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Serotonin; Swimming

Substance P is a peptide from the tachykinin family, which is found in peripheral and central nervous systems, causing vasodilation and increased secretion in the nasal mucosa. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the experimental model of allergic rhinitis will cause allergic changes in the larynx and to compare the effects of aprepitant, a substance P antagonist, on nasal symptoms in allergic rhinitis, and histopathological changes in the nasal and laryngeal mucosa with antihistamine and leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA).. An experimental animal study.. The study was carried out on 34 healthy 8-12 weeks old female Sprague Dawley rats in 5 groups. The rats in which an experimental allergic rhinitis model was created with ovalbumin were scored by observing their nasal symptoms, and nasal and laryngeal mucous membranes included in the study were evaluated histopathologically after medications.. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained from the study, antihistamine and LTRA significantly reduced the symptoms of nose scratching and sneezing, while aprepitant did not affect nasal symptoms. In the histopathological examination of the larynx, effects that would make a significant difference were found in the allergy group when compared to the control group. On the larynx, aprepitant reduced pseudostratification significantly compared to the allergy group.. Aprepitant provides histopathological changes in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, but does not have sufficient effect on nasal symptoms. The effect of aprepitant on the larynx has not been clearly demonstrated.. NA Laryngoscope, 133:2891-2897, 2023.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Histamine Antagonists; Nasal Mucosa; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Ovalbumin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rhinitis, Allergic; Substance P

Aprepitant, as a neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) antagonist, originally applied for curing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, has been reported to have significant antitumor effect on several malignant tumors. However, the effect of aprepitant on gallbladder cancer (GBC) is not clear yet. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of aprepitant on GBC and the potential mechanisms.. The NK-1R expression of gallbladder cancer cells were examined by immunofluorescence. MTT assay, wound healing and transwell migration assay were applied to detect the effect of aprepitant on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate. The effects of aprepitant on the expressions of cytokine were examined by real-time quantitative PCR and MAPK activation were detected via immunofluorescence and western blotting. Besides, xenograft model was established to investigate the effect of aprepitant in vivo.. Our results indicated that NK-1R was markedly expressed in gallbladder cancer cells and aprepitant effectively inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, the apoptosis, ROS and inflammation response were significantly boosted by aprepitant in GBC. Aprepitant induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocationin and increased the expressions of p-P65, p-Akt, p-JNK, p-ERK and p-P38, as well as the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Consistently, aprepitant suppressed the growth of GBC in xenograft mice model.. Our study demonstrated that aprepitant could inhibit the development of gallbladder cancer via inducing ROS and MAPK activation, which suggested that aprepitant may become a promising therapeutic drug against GBC.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Carcinoma in Situ; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Humans; Mice; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Reactive Oxygen Species

Substance P (SP) modulates NK1 and has various functions such as regulation of pain response, bone metabolism, and angiogenesis, which are recognized as important factors in osteoarthritis (OA). We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of targeting SP on OA progression.. SP expression patterns were analysed histologically in articular cartilage and subchondral bone of human knees from OA patients and autopsy donors as non-OA samples and in mouse articular cartilage. Moreover, to examine the effect of SP on the progression of OA, we administered drugs to mice following the surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus: Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), septide (NK1 receptor agonist), or aprepitant (NK1 receptor antagonist). Histological analysis and bone morphologic analysis using micro-computed tomography were performed.. In human analysis, the expression of SP in mild OA samples was significantly higher than that in severe OA, and that in healthy cartilage was significantly higher than that in OA. In mouse analysis, Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores in the septide group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Computed tomography analysis showed that the subchondral bone's epiphysis in the control group had sclerotic change, not observed in the septide group.. The administration of septide ameliorates OA progression through preventing subchondral bone sclerosis.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Cartilage, Articular; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Mice; Osteoarthritis; Phosphates; Substance P; X-Ray Microtomography

Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death mediated by inflammasomes. Previous studies have reported that inhibition of neurokinin receptor 1 (NK1R) exerted neuroprotection in several neurological diseases. Herein, we have investigated the role of NK1R receptor inhibition using Aprepitant to attenuate NLRC4-dependent neuronal pyroptosis after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), as well as the underlying mechanism.. A total of 182 CD-1 mice were used. ICH was induced by injection of autologous blood into the right basal ganglia. Aprepitant, a selective antagonist of NK1R, was injected intraperitoneally at 1 h after ICH. To explore the underlying mechanism, NK1R agonist, GR73632, and protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) agonist, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), were injected intracerebroventricularly at 1 h after ICH induction, and small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for NLRC4 was administered via intracerebroventricular injection at 48 h before ICH induction, respectively. Neurobehavioral tests, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were performed.. The expression of endogenous NK1R and NLRC 4 were gradually increased after ICH. NK1R was expressed on neurons. Aprepitant significantly improved the short- and long-term neurobehavioral deficits after ICH, which was accompanied with decreased neuronal pyroptosis, as well as decreased expression of NLRC4, Cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD (gasdermin D), IL-1β, and IL-18. Activation of NK1R or PKCδ abolished these neuroprotective effects of Aprepitant after ICH. Similarly, knocking down NLRC4 using siRNA produced similar neuroprotective effects.. Aprepitant suppressed NLRC4-dependent neuronal pyroptosis and improved neurological function, possibly mediated by inhibition of NK1R/PKCδ signaling pathways after ICH. The NK1R may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ICH.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Pyroptosis; RNA, Small Interfering

We investigated, the effects of aprepitant (APRE) on the lung tissues of rats with an experimental polymicrobial sepsis model (CLP: cecal ligation and puncture) biochemically, molecularly and histopathologically.. A total of 40 rats were divided into 5 groups with 8 animals in each group. Group 1 (SHAM), control group; Group 2 (CLP), cecal ligation and puncture; Group 3 (CLP + APRE10), rats were administered CLP + 10 mg/kg aprepitant; Group 4 (CLP + APRE20), rats were administered CLP + 20 mg/kg aprepitant; and Group 5 (CLP + APRE40), rats were administered CLP + 40 mg/kg aprepitant. A polymicrobial sepsis model was induced with CLP. After 16 h, lung tissues were taken for examination. Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa b (NFK-b) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions were analysed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR), biochemically antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and oxidant parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and lung damage histopathologically.. The GSH level and SOD activity increased while the MDA level and the expressions of TNF-α and NFK-b were reduced in the groups treated with APRE, especially in the CLP + APRE40 group. The histopathology results supported the molecular and biochemical results.

Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antiemetics; Antioxidants; Aprepitant; Cecum; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Glutathione; Inflammation; Ligation; Lung; Malondialdehyde; NF-kappa B; Oxidative Stress; Peroxidase; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sepsis; Superoxide Dismutase; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Can preoperative or perioperative intervention reduce the risk of recurrence of endometriosis caused by either incomplete excision or spillage and dissemination?. A mouse model of endometriosis recurrence caused by spillage and dissemination was first established using 24 female Balb/c mice. The spillage and dissemination model was used to test the efficacy of preoperative use of ketorolac, perioperative use of aprepitant and combined use of propranolol and andrographolide in a prospective, randomized mouse experiment involving 75 mice. The efficacy of these preoperative and perioperative interventions in a mouse recurrence model caused by incomplete excision was also tested using 72 mice. In all experiments, the baseline body weight and hotplate latency of all mice were measured and recorded before the induction of endometriosis, before the primary surgery and before sacrifice. In addition, all lesions were excised, weighed and processed for quantification and immunohistochemistry analysis of E-cadherin, α-SMA, VEGF, ADRB2 and putative markers of recurrence PR-B, p-p65, as well as Masson trichrome staining.. All interventions substantially and significantly suppressed the outgrowth of endometriotic lesions and reduced the risk of recurrence caused by either spillage and dissemination or incomplete excision (P = 0.0007 to 0.042). These interventions also significantly attenuated the generalized hyperalgesia, inhibited the staining of α-SMA, p-p65, VEGF and ADRB2 but increased staining of E-cadherin and PR-B, resulting in reduced fibrosis.. Given the excellent safety profiles of these drugs, these data strongly suggest that preoperative and perioperative intervention may potentially reduce the risk of endometriosis recurrence effectively.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Cell Proliferation; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Diterpenes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endometriosis; Female; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; Ketorolac; Margins of Excision; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Perioperative Care; Peritoneal Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Preoperative Care; Propranolol; Recurrence; Secondary Prevention

When Zika virus emerged as a public health emergency there were no drugs or vaccines approved for its prevention or treatment. We used a high-throughput screen for Zika virus protease inhibitors to identify several inhibitors of Zika virus infection. We expressed the NS2B-NS3 Zika virus protease and conducted a biochemical screen for small-molecule inhibitors. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was employed to virtually screen ∼138,000 compounds, which increased the identification of active compounds, while decreasing screening time and resources. Candidate inhibitors were validated in several viral infection assays. Small molecules with favorable clinical profiles, especially the five-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor, MK-591, inhibited the Zika virus protease and infection in neural stem cells. Members of the tetracycline family of antibiotics were more potent inhibitors of Zika virus infection than the protease, suggesting they may have multiple mechanisms of action. The most potent tetracycline, methacycline, reduced the amount of Zika virus present in the brain and the severity of Zika virus-induced motor deficits in an immunocompetent mouse model. As Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, the tetracyclines could be quickly translated to the clinic. The compounds identified through our screening paradigm have the potential to be used as prophylactics for patients traveling to endemic regions or for the treatment of the neurological complications of Zika virus infection.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Artificial Intelligence; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Immunocompetence; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Methacycline; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protease Inhibitors; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Small Molecule Libraries; Vero Cells; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection

To identify the effects of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist aprepitant in treating pelvic pain, micturition symptoms, and bladder inflammation in mice with experimental autoimmune cystitis (EAC) similar to bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following three groups: normal control, EAC, and EAC plus aprepitant. EAC was induced in mice by duplicate immunization with bladder homogenate. In the EAC model group, EAC mice were given PBS by gavage once a day during the fourth week. In the EAC plus aprepitant group, aprepitant was administered instead of PBS in the same way. After 4 weeks, pelvic pain threshold and urination habits of mice were analyzed, as well as the bladder weight to body weight ratio, and histologic assessment of the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and NK1R in bladder tissue. EAC mice mimicked the phenotype and pathophysiologic lesions of BPS/IC well. Compared to PBS-treated EAC mice, the mice treated with aprepitant exhibited higher pain threshold values, less number of total urine spots or small urine spots, lower bladder weight to body weight ratio, and reduced bladder inflammation with less mast cell infiltration and decreased expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 in bladder tissue. There was no difference in NK1R expression in bladders treated with or without aprepitant. The NK1R antagonist aprepitant relieved pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, and bladder inflammation in EAC mice. This indicated that NK1R may be a novel therapeutic target in BPS/IC treatment.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Autoimmune Diseases; Cystitis, Interstitial; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Inflammation; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Pain; Urinary Bladder; Urination

Episodic flare-ups of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) are characterized clinically by severe, often posttraumatic, connective tissue swelling and intramuscular edema, followed histologically by an intense and highly angiogenic fibroproliferative reaction. This early inflammatory and angiogenic fibroproliferative response is accompanied by the presence of abundant mast cells far in excess of other reported myopathies.. Using an injury-induced, constitutively-active transgenic mouse model of FOP we show that mast cell inhibition by cromolyn, but not aprepitant, results in a dramatic reduction of heterotopic ossification. Cromolyn, but not aprepitant, significantly decreases the total number of mast cells in FOP lesions. Furthermore, cromolyn specifically diminishes the number of degranulating and resting degranulated mast cells in pre-osseous lesions.. This work demonstrates that consideration of FOP as a type of localized mastocytosis may offer new therapeutic interventions for treatment of this devastating condition.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Cromolyn Sodium; Disease Models, Animal; Mast Cells; Mice; Morpholines; Myositis Ossificans; Ossification, Heterotopic

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Aprepitant; Behavior, Animal; Calcineurin Inhibitors; Dermatitis, Contact; Disease Models, Animal; Filaggrin Proteins; Ganglia, Spinal; Humans; Intermediate Filament Proteins; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Transgenic; Ointments; Oxazolone; Oximes; Pruritus; Skin; Substance P; Tacrolimus; TRPA1 Cation Channel

Pruritus is a major symptom of several dermatological diseases but has limited therapeutic options available. Animal models replicating the pathophysiology of pruritus are needed to support the development of new drugs. Induction of pruritus by chloroquine (CQ) in mice is widely used, although, as with similar models, it has low throughput and does not distinguish between antipruritic effects and confounding factors such as sedation. To overcome these issues, we incorporated into the model an automated system that measures both scratching and locomotor behaviour simultaneously. We combined this system with the determination of CQ levels in different tissues to understand the impact of the route of CQ administration on the pruritogenic response. We concluded that whereas oral CQ does not induce pruritus due to insufficient skin levels, the bell-shaped curve of pruritus observed following subcutaneous administration is due to toxicity at high doses. We validated the model with several drugs currently used in humans: nalfurafine, aprepitant, cyproheptadine and amitriptyline. By comparing the effects of the drugs on both scratching and locomotor activity, we concluded that nalfurafine and aprepitant can exhibit efficacy at doses devoid of central effects, whereas central effects drove the efficacy of the other two drugs. This was further confirmed using non-brain-penetrant drugs. Moreover, as anticipated, anti-inflammatory drugs showed no efficacy. In conclusion, the use of an automated integrated behavioural assessment in CQ-induced pruritus makes the assay suitable for screening purposes and allows for a correct interpretation of the antipruritic effect of the compounds evaluated.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Amitriptyline; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Antipruritics; Aprepitant; Behavior, Animal; Chloroquine; Cyproheptadine; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Routes; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Morphinans; Morpholines; Motor Activity; Narcotic Antagonists; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Pruritus; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Skin; Spiro Compounds; Vibration; Video Recording

Substance P (SP) is produced at high levels in the central nervous system (CNS), and its target receptor, neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R), is expressed by glia and leukocytes. This tachykinin functions to exacerbate inflammatory responses at peripheral sites. Moreover, SP/NK-1R interactions have recently been associated with severe neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. We have previously demonstrated that NK-1R antagonists can limit neuroinflammatory damage in a mouse model of bacterial meningitis. Furthermore, we have since shown that these agents can attenuate Borrelia burgdorferi-induced neuronal and glial inflammatory mediator production in non-human primate brain explants and isolated neuronal cells.. In the present study, we have assessed the role played by endogenous SP/NK-1R interactions in damaging CNS inflammation in an established rhesus macaque model that faithfully reproduces the key clinical features of Lyme neuroborreliosis, using the specific NK-1R antagonist, aprepitant. We have utilized multiplex ELISA to quantify immune mediator levels in cerebrospinal fluid, and RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses to quantify cytokine and NK-1R expression, respectively, in brain cortex, dorsal root ganglia, and spinal cord tissues. In addition, we have assessed astrocyte number/activation status in brain cortical tissue by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy.. We demonstrate that aprepitant treatment attenuates B. burgdorferi-induced elevations in CCL2, CXCL13, IL-17A, and IL-6 gene expression in dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, and/or cerebrospinal fluid of rhesus macaques at 2 to 4 weeks following intrathecal infection. In addition, we demonstrate that this selective NK-1R antagonist also prevents increases in total cortical brain NK-1R expression and decreases in the expression of the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein, associated with B. burgdorferi infection.. The ability of a centrally acting NK-1R inhibitor to attenuate B. burgdorferi-associated neuroinflammatory responses and sequelae raises the intriguing possibility that such FDA-approved agents could be repurposed for use as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of bacterial CNS infections.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Aprepitant; Astrocytes; Borrelia burgdorferi; Chemokine CCL2; Chemokine CXCL13; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Encephalitis; Female; Ganglia, Spinal; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Lyme Neuroborreliosis; Macaca mulatta; Male; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; RNA, Messenger; Time Factors

Increase in SP release as a function of hypoxia of the rat carotid body is a tissue response to ischemia that leads to neurogenic inflammation and cognitive deficits. Substance P-mediated inflammation is reported to attenuate the neuroprotective PPAR-γ. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aprepitant, a substance P-NK1 receptor antagonist in bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO)-induced ischaemic brain injury and vascular dementia.. Bilateral carotid artery occlusion was performed in Wistar rats to produce hypoperfusion and ischaemic injury. Dementia was noted by an increase in brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and attenuation of learning ability (escape latency time) and memory retention (time spent in target quadrant) using Morris water maze. Oxidative stress was estimated by an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and a decrease in reduced glutathione level. Vascular dysfunction was measured by attenuation of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (isolated carotid ring preparation), and increased in carotid artery TBARS level. Neurodegeneration was assessed in the hippocampus by H&E staining. Aprepitant and donepezil (positive control) were administered to rats from day 28 to day 42 after BCCAO.. Aprepitant (20 and 40 mg/kg) and donepezil (2 mg/kg) significantly improved vascular function, learning and memory ability, and decreases the neuronal cell death, oxidative stress, and ache in BCCAO rats. Donepezil effect was more significant than the low dose of aprepitant on disease markers. However, BADGE (30 mg/kg a, PPAR-γ antagonist) prevented the ameliorative effect of aprepitant.. Thus, it may be concluded that aprepitant attenuates vascular dysfunction and dementia in BCCAO rats by activating downstream PPAR-γ.

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Animals; Aprepitant; Brain; Brain Ischemia; Carotid Stenosis; Dementia, Vascular; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelium, Vascular; Glutathione; Male; Maze Learning; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Nitrites; Oxidative Stress; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Neurokinin-1

Experiments were conducted to develop a model to study the effect of oral and topical administration of the NK1 receptor antagonist aprepitant, on scratching behaviour in gerbils. The gerbil was selected due to its relevance for human NK1 receptor pharmacology. Intradermal injection of a specific NK1 receptor agonist GR73632 (100 nmol/100 µl) at the rostral back of gerbils produced scratching of the injection site. This could be attenuated by intradermal co-administration of a selective NK1 receptor antagonist aprepitant (30-100-300 nmol), demonstrating the role of dermal NK1 receptor in elicitation of scratching behaviour. Likewise, scratching was attenuated by oral (0.3-3-30 mg/kg) or topical application (0.01-0.1-1% w/v) of aprepitant and pharmacokinetic analysis of aprepitant levels in brain, blood and skin supported that efficacy of topically applied aprepitant was due to dermal rather than central target engagement. In conclusion, we showed that NK1 agonist-induced scratching in the gerbil can be reversed by systemic and topical administration of aprepitant. This test system may provide a useful model for the in vivo assessment of putative antipruritic agents.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Animals; Antipruritics; Aprepitant; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Gerbillinae; Humans; Injections, Intradermal; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Peptide Fragments; Pruritus; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Substance P

To study the antiemetic effect of Ju-Pi-Tang from Jin Kui Yao Lue on cisplatin-induced emetic model in minks, and to observe the immunoexpression of peripheral and central c-fos and substance P.. The minks were randomly divided into blank control group, Ju-Pi-Tang blank control group, model group, ondansetron group, aprepitant group, Ju-Pi-Tang (in high-, mid-, and low-dose) groups. Every group was administered with the antiemetic agent or distilled water on 24 h before cisplatin injection. The antiemetic effect of drugs was investigated in the emetic model of minks induced by cisplatin in 72 h observation. Immunohistochemistry was used to compare the differences of c-fos and substance P expression in the area postrema of brain and distal ileum tissues.. During observation period,compared with model group,the frequency cisplatin induced retching and vomiting was significantly reduced by Ju-Pi-Tang in high- and mid-dose groups, during the 0-24 h acute period, the number of retching of Ju-Pi-Tang in high-dose group was decreased more than aprepitant group, during the 24-72 h delayed period, the number of both retching and vomiting was decreased more than ondansetron group, after 72 h of cisplatin administration, compared with model group, the grey levels of c-fos and substance P expression in distal ileum and brain tissues of Ju-Pi-Tang groups were higher significantly.. Ju-Pi-Tang has a good effect against cisplatin-induced emesis in minks.

Topics: Animals; Antiemetics; Aprepitant; Brain; Cisplatin; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ileum; Mink; Morpholines; Ondansetron; Vomiting

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of pantoprazole and aprepitant on experimental esophagitis in albino rats. Groups of rats, fasted overnight, received normal saline (3 mL/kg, sham control) or toxic control (3 mL/kg) or pantoprazole (30 mg/kg) or aprepitant (10 mg/kg), or their combinations and were subjected to pylorus and forestomach ligation. Animals were sacrificed after 8 h and evaluated for the gastric pH, volume of gastric juices, total acidity, esophagitis index, and free acidity. Esophageal tissues were further subjected to estimations of TBARS, GSH, catalase, and SOD. Treatment with pantoprazole and aprepitant significantly inhibited the gastric secretion, total acidity, and esophagitis index. The treatment also helped to restore the altered levels oxidative stress parameters to normal.

Topics: 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; Animals; Aprepitant; Catalase; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Therapy, Combination; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Glutathione; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Pantoprazole; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Rats; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

The neuropeptide substance P (SP) has been implicated in the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and development of cerebral edema in acute brain injury. Cerebral edema accumulates rapidly around brain tumors and has been linked to several tumor-associated deficits. Currently, the standard treatment for peritumoral edema is the corticosteroid dexamethasone, prolonged use of which is associated with a number of deleterious side effects. As SP is reported to increase in many cancer types, this study examined whether SP plays a role in the genesis of brain peritumoral edema. A-375 human melanoma cells were injected into the right striatum of male Balb/c nude mice to induce brain tumor growth, with culture medium injected in animals serving as controls. At 2, 3 or 4 weeks following tumor cell inoculation, non-treated animals were perfusion fixed for immunohistochemical detection of Albumin, SP and NK1 receptor. A further subgroup of animals was treated with a daily injection of the NK1 antagonist Emend (3 mg/kg), dexamethasone (8 mg/kg) or saline vehicle at 3 weeks post-inoculation. Animals were sacrificed a week later to determine BBB permeability using Evan's Blue and brain water content. Non-treated animals demonstrated a significant increase in albumin, SP and NK1 receptor immunoreactivity in the peritumoral area as well as increased perivascular staining in the surrounding brain tissue. Brain water content and BBB permeability was significantly increased in tumor-inoculated animals when compared to controls (p<0.05). Treatment with Emend and dexamethasone reduced BBB permeability and brain water content when compared to vehicle-treated tumor-inoculated mice. The increase in peritumoral staining for both SP and the NK1 receptor, coupled with the reduction in brain water content and BBB permeability seen following treatment with the NK1 antagonist Emend, suggests that SP plays a role in the genesis of peritumoral edema, and thus warrants further investigation as a potential anti-edematous treatment.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Brain Neoplasms; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Male; Mice; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Permeability; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Substance P

Korean red ginseng (KRG, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has traditionally been considered to harbor anti-allergic effects, however its action on atopic dermatitis (AD) is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of KRG on AD using NC/Nga mice as an AD model. In addition, we examined the effect of aprepitant (substance P specific neurokinin receptor antagonist) on AD.. The KRG extract and aprepitant were administered orally to NC/Nga mice. The efficacy of KRG and aprepitant was evaluated by assessing total clinical severity score, ear thickness, serum IgE level and histology. In addition, mRNA and protein expression were measured by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively.. The KRG extract significantly reduced the total clinical severity score, ear thickness and the level of serum IgE in AD mouse model, whereas aprepitant reduced only the serum IgE level. KRG not only decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ and substance P but also reduced the infiltration of FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and CD1a+ Langerhans cells in the lesions, whereas aprepitant decreased only substance P and the infiltration of Treg cells.. These results suggest that KRG extract may be a potential therapeutic modality for AD and aprepitant could be used as adjunctive agent to control pruritus in AD.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents; Aprepitant; Dermatitis, Atopic; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Ethnopharmacology; Female; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Medicine, Korean Traditional; Mice; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Panax; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Republic of Korea; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics: Animals; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Aprepitant; Clinical Trials as Topic; Colloids; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Carriers; Gold; Humans; Melanoma, Experimental; Morpholines; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nausea; Neoplasms; Polyethylene Glycols; Silicon Dioxide

Cryptosporidiosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, causes self-limited diarrhea in normal hosts but can cause life-threatening diarrhea for immunosuppressed patients. There is an urgent need for new drugs to treat this chronic disease. Cryptosporidium parvum infection is associated with intestinal structural and pathophysiologic changes, including villi blunting and glucose malabsorption. Substance P (SP), a neuropeptide and pain transmitter, is associated with the gastrointestinal tract and is elevated in humans and macaques after experimental C. parvum challenge. To examine the relevance of SP in the pathogenesis of cryptosporidiosis, and to determine if SP receptor antagonism can be employed for treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed hosts, we used an immunosuppressed murine model (dexamethasone-immunosuppressed mice) that is frequently utilized for examining chemotherapeutic potential of drugs. Quantitative ELISA was used to measure intestinal SP levels in immunosuppressed mice with, and without, C. parvum infection. Intestinal physiological alterations, as studied by the Ussing chamber technique, plus weight change, fecal oocyst shedding, and villi measurements, were compared in infected mice with, and without, SP receptor antagonist (aprepitant) treatment. Immunosuppressed mice infected with C. parvum demonstrated increased SP levels as well as physiological alterations (glucose malabsorption), weight loss, fecal oocyst shedding, and structural alterations (increased intestinal villi blunting) compared to uninfected mice. Each of these defects was significantly inhibited by aprepitant treatment. These studies demonstrate the potential of SP receptor antagonism for treatment of pathogenesis of cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed hosts.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Aprepitant; Cattle; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium parvum; Dexamethasone; Disease Models, Animal; Feces; Glucose; Immunosuppressive Agents; Jejunum; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microvilli; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Parasite Egg Count; Random Allocation; Substance P; Weight Loss

Postoperative adhesions pose a continued healthcare problem. We previously demonstrated that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist (NK-1RA) at surgery reduces intraabdominal adhesions in rats. The NK-1RA aprepitant (Emend, Merck) is clinically approved for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting; however, its effects on adhesion formation are unknown. Thus, we determined the effects of i.p. and oral administration of aprepitant on adhesion formation in a rat model.. Adhesions were surgically induced in rats that were randomized to receive either one or five oral preoperative doses or a single intraoperative i.p. dose of aprepitant (50 mg/kg). Adhesions were scored at 7 days. In similar experiments using i.p. dosing, animals were sacrificed at 24 h and peritoneal fluid, and tissue were collected to assess fibrinolytic activity and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mRNA levels, respectively.. I.p. aprepitant reduced adhesion formation by 33% (p < 0.05) compared with controls while oral aprepitant had no effect. Compared to controls i.p. aprepitant reduced tPA activity by 55% (p < 0.05), increased PAI-1 mRNA levels by 140% (p < 0.05), and had no affect on tPA mRNA levels.. These data suggest that aprepitant maybe a useful pharmacologic agent for reducing adhesion formation clinically.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Aprepitant; Disease Models, Animal; Infusions, Parenteral; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Peritoneal Diseases; Rats; Tissue Adhesions

The pharmacological properties of T-2328 were evaluated as an antagonist of the tachykinin neurokinin 1 (NK(1)) receptor. T-2328 inhibited the specific binding of [(3)H][Sar(9),Met(O(2))(11)]substance P to tachykinin NK(1) receptors in human lymphoblastic IM9 cells with K(i) of 0.08 nM. In the same assay, K(i) for aprepitant, a brain-penetrating NK(1) antagonist, was 1.3 nM. The antagonism of T-2328 is highly selective for the human NK(1) receptors since the affinities for human NK(2), NK(3) receptors, and 13 other kinds of receptors and ion channels were >1000-fold lower than for NK(1) receptors. Reduction in Bmax with no change in affinity suggests the non-competitive nature of T-2328 interaction with the NK(1) receptor. T-2328 (0.03-0.1 mg/kg, i.v.) and aprepitant (1 - 3 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly prevented the GR73632 (i.c.v.)-induced foot tapping response in gerbils. The potencies of T-2328 in both in vitro and in vivo studies were more than 10 times greater than those of aprepitant. I.v. administration of T-2328 (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) potently blocked both acute and delayed emetic responses induced by cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) in ferrets. It is concluded that T-2328 is a potent, centrally active NK(1) antagonist. T-2328 may have potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced emesis.

Topics: Animals; Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Aprepitant; Binding Sites; Brain; Cell Line, Tumor; CHO Cells; Cisplatin; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ferrets; Gerbillinae; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Morpholines; Motor Activity; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Peptide Fragments; Piperidines; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Substance P; Transfection; Vomiting

Bacillus anthracis edema toxin (ET), composed of protective antigen and an adenylate cyclase edema factor (EF), elicits edema in host tissues, but the target cells and events leading from EF-mediated cyclic-AMP production to edema are unknown. We evaluated the direct effect of ET on several cell types in vitro and tested the possibility that mediators of vascular leakage, such as histamine, contribute to edema in rabbits given intradermal ET. ET increased the transendothelial electrical resistance of endothelial monolayers, a response that is mechanistically inconsistent with the in vivo vascular leakage induced by ET. Screening of several drugs by intradermal treatment prior to toxin injection demonstrated reduced ET-induced vascular leakage with a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin), agents that interfere with histamine (pyrilamine or cromolyn), or a neurokinin antagonist (spantide). Systemic administration of indomethacin or celecoxib (cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors), pyrilamine, aprepitant (a neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist), or indomethacin with pyrilamine significantly reduced vascular leakage associated with ET. Although the effects of pyrilamine, cromolyn, or aprepitant on ET-induced vascular leakage suggest a possible role for mast cells (MC) and sensory neurons in ET-induced edema, ET did not elicit degranulation of human skin MC or substance P release from NT2N cells in vitro. Our results indicate that ET, acting indirectly or directly on a target yet to be identified, stimulates the production/release of multiple inflammatory mediators, specifically neurokinins, prostanoids, and histamine. These mediators, individually and through complex interactions, increase vascular permeability, and interventions directed at these mediators may benefit hosts infected with B. anthracis.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Bacterial; Aprepitant; Bacillus anthracis; Bacterial Toxins; Capillary Permeability; Celecoxib; Cell Degranulation; Cell Line; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; Enzyme Inhibitors; Histamine; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Indomethacin; Injections, Intradermal; Mast Cells; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Prostaglandin Antagonists; Prostaglandins; Pyrazoles; Pyrilamine; Rabbits; Substance P; Sulfonamides; Tachykinins

Drug therapy for late-stage (encephalitic) human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is currently very unsatisfactory with the most commonly used drug, melarsoprol, having a 5% overall mortality. There is evidence in a mouse model of HAT that Substance P (SP) receptor antagonism reduces the neuroinflammatory reaction to CNS trypanosome infection. In this study we investigated the effects of combination chemotherapy with melarsoprol and a humanised SP receptor antagonist aprepitant (EMEND) in this mouse model. The melarsoprol/aprepitant drug combination did not produce any clinical signs of illness in mice with CNS trypanosome infection. This lack of any additional or unexpected CNS toxicity in the mouse model of CNS HAT provides valuable safety data for the future possible use of this drug combination in patients with late-stage HAT.

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Melarsoprol; Mice; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Treatment Outcome; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosomiasis, African

Topics: Animals; Aprepitant; Clinical Trials as Topic; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Morpholines; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Pain; Piperidines; Stereoisomerism