echistatin and Disease-Models--Animal

We have previously shown that activation of the ATP-gated ion channel subtype P2X(4) receptors (P2X(4)Rs) in the spinal cord, the expression of which is upregulated in microglia after nerve injury, is necessary for producing neuropathic pain. The upregulation of P2X(4)Rs in microglia is, therefore, a key process in neuropathic pain, but the mechanism remains unknown. Here, we find a fibronectin/integrin-dependent mechanism in the upregulation of P2X(4)Rs. Microglia cultured on dishes coated with fibronectin, an extracellular matrix molecule, expressed a higher level of P2X(4)R protein when compared with those cultured on control dishes. The increase was suppressed by echistatin, a peptide that selectively blocks beta(1) and beta(3)-containing integrins, and with a function-blocking antibody of beta(1) integrin. In in vivo studies, the upregulation of P2X(4)Rs in the spinal cord after spinal nerve injury was significantly suppressed by intrathecal administration of echistatin. Tactile allodynia in response to nerve injury and intrathecal administration of ATP- and fibronectin-stimulated microglia was inhibited by echistatin. Furthermore, intrathecal administration of fibronectin in normal rats increased the level of P2X(4)R protein in the spinal cord and produced tactile allodynia. Moreover, the fibronectin-induced allodynia was not observed in mice lacking P2X(4)R. Taken together with the results of our previous study showing an increase in the spinal fibronectin level after nerve injury, the present results suggest that the fibronectin/integrin system participates in the upregulation of P2X(4)R expression after nerve injury and subsequent neuropathic pain.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Behavior, Animal; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fibronectins; Integrins; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Microglia; Neuralgia; Pain Threshold; Peptides; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Purinergic P2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; Spinal Cord; Time Factors; Up-Regulation

We evaluated the effect of the RGD-containing peptide, echistatin, on thrombolysis time and acute reocclusion in a canine model of coronary thrombosis/thrombolysis. Occlusive thrombus formation was induced by electrical injury, via a stimulating electrode, to the endothelial surface of the circumflex coronary artery in the open-chest, anesthetized dog in the presence of a critical stenosis. Fifteen minutes after occlusive thrombus formation, dogs received either an intravenous infusion of vehicle (saline at 0.1 ml/min) or echistatin (15 micrograms/kg/min i.v.). Heparin was given as an initial bolus (100 U/kg i.v.) 15 min after thrombus formation and repeated at hourly intervals (50 U/kg). This dose of heparin increased activated partial thromboplastin time to 1.5- to 2.5- fold over control. Thrombolysis was induced with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) at a total dose of 1 mg/kg, intravenously administered over 90 min with 10% given as an initial bolus. The vehicle-treated animals reperfused at 48 +/- 9 min with a reperfusion incidence of 60% (3/5). The echistatin-treated animals reperfused at 46 +/- 5 min with a reperfusion incidence of 100% (5/5). After stopping the tPA infusion, acute reocclusion occurred in 100% (3/3) of the vehicle-treated dogs and in only 20% (1/5) of the echistatin-treated dogs. Echistatin caused a greater than 5-fold increase in buccal mucosa bleeding time and almost completely inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation to ADP, collagen, and U-46619. Residual thrombus wet weight, determined at the end of the experiment, was significantly lower for the echistatin group (2.1 +/- 0.2 mg) compared to the vehicle group (5.8 +/- 0.7 mg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Coronary Thrombosis; Disease Models, Animal; Dogs; Female; Fibrinolysis; Hemodynamics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Peptides; Perfusion; Platelet Aggregation; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Recurrence; Thrombolytic Therapy; Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Viper Venoms

A model of acute, platelet-dependent canine coronary artery thrombosis was utilized to assess the antithrombotic effect of a synthetic, RGD-containing 49-residue protein termed echistatin. This protein is derived from the venom of the viper, Echis carinatus. In vitro, echistatin inhibited ADP (10 microM)-induced platelet aggregation with IC50 values in human and canine platelet-rich plasma of 101 +/- 4 and 127 +/- 32 nM, respectively. In vivo, in the dog, infusion of echistatin for 30 min at 20 micrograms kg-1 min-1 or 2.6 nM kg-1 min-1 resulted in total abolition of acute platelet-dependent coronary thrombus formation in all dogs tested (n = 5). Infusion of a lower dose (10 micrograms kg-1 min-1) was not effective in prevention of thrombus formation. Blood samples were taken before and after infusion of echistatin in order to determine ex vivo platelet aggregatory responses. Echistatin (20 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v.) attenuated ex vivo platelet aggregation elicited by ADP, U-46619 and collagen and increased bleeding time by 2.9 +/- 0.5-fold over control. Thus, in the dog, echistatin is an effective antithrombotic agent inhibiting both platelet aggregation in vivo in the coronary artery as well as ex vivo with a concomitant increase in bleeding time. Furthermore, the effects of echistatin on platelet aggregation and bleeding time are reversible with restoration to control levels occurring 30-60 min after termination of the infusion.

Topics: Animals; Bleeding Time; Coronary Thrombosis; Disease Models, Animal; Dogs; Female; Hemodynamics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Peptides; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Viper Venoms