naphthoquinones and Lung-Diseases

Pterocarpanquinone (+/-)-LQB-118 presents antineoplastic and antiparasitic properties and also shows great inhibitory effect on TNF-α release in vitro. Here, its anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation model in C57BL/6 mice. LPS inhalation induced a marked neutrophil infiltration to the lungs which was reduced by intraperitoneal treatment with (+/-)-LQB-118 in a similar manner to that of dexamethasone and even better than that of acetylsalicylic acid. Moreover, (+/-)-LQB-118 administration resulted in decrease of NF-κB activation and KC level in lungs, with a pronounced inhibitory effect on TNF-α release, measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Trying to understand the anti-inflammatory mechanism by which (+/-)-LQB-118 acts, we performed a molecular modeling analysis, including docking to estrogen receptors α and β. Results suggested that (+/-)-LQB-118 may bind to both receptors, with a similar orientation to 17-β-estradiol. Together, these results showed that (+/-)-LQB-118 exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect, most likely by inhibiting TNF-α release and NF-κB activation, which may be related to the estrogen receptor binding.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Disease Models, Animal; Hydrogen Bonding; Inflammation; Lung Diseases; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Naphthoquinones; NF-kappa B; Pterocarpans; Receptors, Estrogen; Thermodynamics

The activity of β-lapachone (3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-naphthol[1,2-b]pyran-5,6-dione, β-lap) against different stages of Schistosoma mansoni was investigated in mice. Mice infected with 50 cercariae (BH strain) were intraperitoneally treated at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days, starting on the 1st, 14th, 28th and 45th days after infection, to evaluate the effect of β-lap on skin schistosomula, lung schistosomula, young worms (before oviposition) and adult worms (after oviposition), respectively. All animals were euthanized 60 days after infection. β-Lap significantly reduced (p<0.001) the number of worms in 29.78%, 37.2%, 24.2% and 40.22% when administered during the phases of skin schistosomula, lung schistosomula, young worms and adult worms, respectively. Significant reduction was also achieved in terms of female burden. In all groups, there was significant reduction in the number of eggs and granulomas in the hepatic tissue. When the intervention was performed during the phase of adult worms, β-lap reduced the size of hepatic granulomas and changed the oogram pattern, lowering the percentage of immature eggs and increasing the percentage of mature and dead eggs. Our data indicate that β-lap has moderate antischistosomal properties. Its molecule may also be used as a prototype for synthesis of new naphthoquinone derivatives with potential schistosomicidal properties. Further studies with different formulations containing β-lap are needed to clearly establish the best dose and route of administration and its mechanism of action against schistosomes.

Topics: Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Female; Granuloma; Life Cycle Stages; Liver; Liver Diseases; Lung; Lung Diseases; Magnoliopsida; Mice; Naphthoquinones; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Skin; Skin Diseases

We evaluated the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) on pig cardiopulmonary function by intravenously infusing each cytokine individually or in combination (0.5 microgram/kg from 0 to 0.5 h + 5 ng.kg-1 x min-1 from 0.5 to 6 h for each cytokine). The role of eicosanoids in mediating the TNF-alpha + IL-1 alpha-induced cardiopulmonary dysfunction was also investigated by pretreating cytokine-infused pigs with CGS 8515 (5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) or indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Coinfusion of TNF-alpha with IL-1 alpha caused additive increases (P < 0.05) in total peripheral resistance and plasma concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha). The increases in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), alveolar-arterial O2 gradient (AaDO2), alveolar dead space-to-tidal volume ratio (VD/VT), and plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 were either additive or synergistic. CGS 8515 blocked the TNF-alpha + IL-1 alpha-induced increases (P < 0.05) in mean aortic pressure, total peripheral resistance (4-6 h), VD/VT (5-6 h), and, at 6 h, attenuated the increases in Ppa, PVR, and AaDO2. Indomethacin blocked or attenuated the cytokine-induced increases (P < 0.05) in Ppa, PVR, AaDO2, VD/VT, and plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. The 1-to 2-h systemic hypotension, caused by TNF-alpha + IL-1 alpha, was not abrogated by either indomethacin or CGS 8515. The cytokines did not alter plasma concentrations of leukotriene B4 or 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. We conclude that coinfusion of TNF-alpha with IL-1 alpha induces physiological responses that are additive or synergistic and that cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase products (other than leukotriene B4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid) importantly mediate cardiopulmonary dysfunction in pigs infused with TNF-alpha + IL-1 alpha.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Albumins; Animals; Arachidonic Acids; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Cytokines; Dinoprost; Drug Synergism; Eicosanoids; Heart; Heart Diseases; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Indomethacin; Injections, Intravenous; Interleukin-1; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Lung; Lung Diseases; Naphthoquinones; ortho-Aminobenzoates; Swine; Thromboxane B2; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vascular Resistance

In order to facilitate the study of oxidative stress in lung tissue, rat lung slices with impaired antioxidant defenses were prepared and used. Incubation of lung slices with the antineoplastic agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) (100 microM) in an amino acid-rich medium for 45 min produced a near-maximal (approximately 85%), irreversible inhibition of glutathione reductase, accompanied by only a modest (approximately 15%) decrease in pulmonary nonprotein sulfhydryls (NPSH) and no alteration in intracellular ATP, NADP+, and NADPH levels. The amounts of NADP(H), ATP, and NPSH were stable over a 4-hr incubation period following the removal from BCNU. The viability of the system was further evaluated by measuring the rate of evolution of 14CO2 from D-[14C(U)]-glucose. The rates of evolution were almost identical in the compromised system when compared with control slices over a 4-hr time period. By using slices with compromised oxidative defenses, preliminary results have been obtained with paraquat, nitrofurantoin, and 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Carmustine; Glutathione Reductase; Lung Diseases; Male; NADH Dehydrogenase; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; Naphthoquinones; Nitrofurantoin; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen Consumption; Paraquat; Rats; Sulfhydryl Compounds

In order to study oxidative stress in the lung, we have developed a rat lung slice model with compromised oxidative defences. Lung slices with markedly inhibited glutathione reductase activity (approximately 80% inhibition) were prepared by incubating slices, with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) (100 microM) in an amino acid-rich medium for 45 min at 37 degrees. These lung slices had similar levels of GSH and ATP and polyamine uptake (a marker of alveolar epithelial type I and II cell function) to control rat lung slices. We have utilized these BCNU pretreated slices to study the effects of the herbicide, paraquat, in comparison to those of 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, a potent redox cycler. Paraquat (10-100 microM) caused only minimal changes in the levels of GSH or ATP in control or compromised slices. In contrast, 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone caused a decrease in GSH in control slices but a markedly enhanced decrease in both GSH and ATP in compromised slices. Both compounds had only limited effects on putrescine and spermidine uptake in control slices. However, they caused a marked inhibition in compromised slices. Paraquat had little effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake (a marker of endothelial cell function) in either control or compromised slices whereas the quinone inhibited uptake in the compromised slices. Thus, the lack of effect of paraquat on GSH and ATP does not support the involvement of oxidative stress in its toxicity. In contrast, using polyamine uptake, as a functional marker of alveolar epithelial cell damage, suggests a role for redox cycling. As paraquat is known to be accumulated primarily in alveolar type I and II cells (a small fraction of the lung cell population), our data suggest that only a small proportion of pulmonary GSH and ATP is present in alveolar epithelial type I and II cells but that much larger amounts may be present in endothelial cells. These studies highlight the problem of gross tissue measurements in heterogeneous tissues such as the lung.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Carmustine; Drug Synergism; Glutathione; Glutathione Reductase; Kinetics; Lung; Lung Diseases; Male; Naphthoquinones; Oxidation-Reduction; Paraquat; Putrescine; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Serotonin; Spermidine