piperidines and Endotoxemia

TLR4 signaling via endotoxemia in macrophages promotes macrophage transition to the inflammatory phenotype through NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This transition event has the potential to trigger acute lung injury (ALI). However, relatively little is known about the regulation of NLRP3 and its role in the pathogenesis of ALI. Here we interrogated the signaling pathway activated by CD38, an ectoenzyme expressed in macrophages, in preventing ALI through suppressing NLRP3 activation. Wild-type and

Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Adenine; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; Animals; Endotoxemia; Female; Inflammasomes; Macrophages; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; NF-kappa B; Piperidines; Signal Transduction

Increasing evidence suggests that systemic inflammation triggers a neuroinflammatory response that involves sustained microglia activation. This response has deleterious consequences on memory and learning capability in experimental animal models and in patients. However, the mechanisms connecting systemic inflammation and microglia activation remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the autotaxin (ATX)/lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)/LPA-receptor axis as a potential pharmacological target to modulate the LPS-mediated neuroinflammatory response in vitro (the murine BV-2 microglia cell line) and in vivo (C57BL/6J mice receiving a single i.p. LPS injection). In LPS-stimulated (20 ng/mL) BV-2 cells, we observed increased phosphorylation of transcription factors (STAT1, p65, and c-Jun) that are known to induce a proinflammatory microglia phenotype. LPS upregulated ATX, TLR4, and COX2 expression, amplified NO production, increased neurotoxicity of microglia conditioned medium, and augmented cyto-/chemokine concentrations in the cellular supernatants. PF8380 (a type I ATX inhibitor, used at 10 and 1 µM) and AS2717638 (an LPA5 antagonist, used at 1 and 0.1 µM) attenuated these proinflammatory responses, at non-toxic concentrations, in BV-2 cells. In vivo, we demonstrate accumulation of PF8380 in the mouse brain and an accompanying decrease in LPA concentrations. In vivo, co-injection of LPS (5 mg/kg body weight) and PF8380 (30 mg/kg body weight), or LPS/AS2717638 (10 mg/kg body weight), significantly attenuated LPS-induced iNOS, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and CXCL2 mRNA expression in the mouse brain. On the protein level, PF8380 and AS2717638 significantly reduced TLR4, Iba1, GFAP and COX2 expression, as compared to LPS-only injected animals. In terms of the communication between systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, both inhibitors significantly attenuated LPS-mediated systemic TNFα and IL-6 synthesis, while IL-1β was only reduced by PF8380. Inhibition of ATX and LPA5 may thus provide an opportunity to protect the brain from the toxic effects that are provoked by systemic endotoxemia.

Topics: Animals; Benzoxazoles; Brain; Cell Line; Disease Models, Animal; Endotoxemia; Inflammation; Isoquinolines; Lipopolysaccharides; Mice; Microglia; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; Piperazines; Piperidines; Receptors, Lysophosphatidic Acid

Visfatin plays an important role in inflammatory and metabolic conditions. In this study, the effects of septic stress on the serum, white-adipose-tissue (WAT), and liver visfatin levels of male and female rats were examined. Both gonadally intact (sham) and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats were used in order to evaluate the effects of the gonadal hormonal milieu on visfatin responses. Under the saline-injected conditions, the serum visfatin levels and the hepatic, subcutaneous, and visceral WAT visfatin mRNA levels of the OVX and sham rats did not differ. The serum visfatin levels and the subcutaneous, visceral WAT, and hepatic visfatin mRNA levels of both male and female rats were increased by the injection of a septic dose (5mg/kg) of LPS. At 6h after the injection of LPS, the WAT visfatin mRNA levels of the OVX rats were higher than those of the sham rats, whereas the serum visfatin levels and hepatic visfatin mRNA levels of the two groups did not differ. In the cultured visceral WAT, visfatin antagonist (FK-866) attenuated the LPS-induced up-regulations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). The pathophysiological roles of visfatin under septic conditions remain to be clarified. In addition, the precise mechanisms responsible for the increased WAT visfatin expression seen after ovariectomy and the effects of such changes should also be clarified.

Topics: Abdominal Fat; Acrylamides; Animals; Cytokines; Endotoxemia; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Inflammation Mediators; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver; Male; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; Ovariectomy; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Subcutaneous Fat

Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibition has been reported to improve various inflammatory diseases including endotoxemia. Mitochondrial dysfunction might be the key to the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced organ failure. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether ROCK inhibition protects against the liver injury by regulating mitochondrial function in endotoxemia model mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups (N=6-8 per group): control, LPS, LPS+Y-27632 (LPS+Y), and LPS+Mito-TEMPO (LPS+M). For induction of endotoxin-induced acute liver injury, the mice were intraperitoneally administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20mg/kg). The ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 (or mitochondrial antioxidant Mito-TEMPO) was intraperitoneally administered at 18 and 1h before injection of LPS. The mice were euthanized 8h after LPS administration. The liver and blood samples were taken and preserved for analysis. Results of this study showed that pretreatment with Y-27632 or Mito-TEMPO significantly attenuated the liver injury as compared to the LPS group. This was confirmed by decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and by reduced hepatocellular apoptosis and histologic damage. Pretreatment with Y-27632 or Mito-TEMPO markedly reduced the LPS-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress the in liver. Furthermore, it showed similar protective effects on the hepatic mitochondrial function, including an increased activity of complexes I and IV and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and an upregulated expression of mtDNA-encoded genes. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Mito-TEMPO can potently inhibit the endotoxin-induced mitochondrial and hepatic abnormalities and indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction might play a key role in the endotoxemia-induced acute liver injury. Moreover, our study shows that ROCK inhibition protects against the endotoxemia-induced liver injury by improving the mitochondrial function.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Amides; Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Cyclooxygenase 2; DNA-Binding Proteins; Endotoxemia; Female; Hepatocytes; High Mobility Group Proteins; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver; Liver Diseases; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mitochondria; Organophosphorus Compounds; Peroxidase; Piperidines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyridines; rho-Associated Kinases; Superoxide Dismutase

The study aimed to investigate the variance of myocardial and serum Nampt levels and the role of Nampt inhibition by FK866 in relatively mild endotoxemia- and severe endotoxemia-induced myocardial injury. Different doses of LPS were injected intraperitoneally to establish relatively mild endotoxemia (4mg/kg) and severe endotoxemia (20mg/kg). FK866 (10mg/kg b.w.) was injected intraperitoneally at hour one after LPS injection. The hearts were isolated from rats at hour six after LPS treatment and mounted in a Langendorff setup to measure cardiac function. Myocardial expression of Nampt was determined with immunohistochemistry assay and western blot. Serum Nampt level and myocardial TNF-α level were determined with ELISA. The myocardial level of TNF-α mRNA was detected with RT-PCR. The degree of myocardial oxidative injury was reflected by measuring lipid peroxidation and GSH/GSSG ratio. The apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was determined with detecting caspase-3 activity and with TUNEL assay. Myocardial expression of Nampt was markedly increased in 4mg/kg LPS-induced endotoxemia but decreased in 20mg/kg LPS-induced endotoxemia. Serum Nampt level was consistently up-regulated in both severities of endotoxemia. Inhibition of Nampt by FK866 reduced myocardial inflammation, oxidative injury and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and improved cardiac function in 4mg/kg LPS-induced endotoxemia. In 20mg/kg LPS-induced endotoxemia, FK866 reduced myocardial inflammation, exacerbated apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and failed to attenuate myocardial oxidative injury and cardiac dysfunction. In conclusion, the variance of myocardial Nampt expression may be associated with severities of endotoxemia. Nampt may play complicated roles and consequently application of Nampt inhibition should be critically evaluated in endotoxemia-induced myocardial impairment.

Topics: Acrylamides; Animals; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Endotoxemia; Gene Expression Regulation; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Myocarditis; Myocardium; Myocytes, Cardiac; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; Oxidative Stress; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of plasma oxidative stress seen in sepsis. The selective endothelin receptor blockers BQ123 and BQ788 were used to investigate the importance of selective endothelin receptor blockage in modulating oxidative stress during endotoxemia.. The study was performed on male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) divided into groups: (1) saline, (2) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (15 mg/kg)-saline, (3) BQ123 (0.5 mg/kg)-LPS, (4) BQ123 (1 mg/kg)-LPS, (5) BQ788 (3 mg/kg)-LPS. The endothelin receptor type A(ETA-R) or type B (ETB-R) antagonist was injected intravenously 30 min before LPS administration. Blood pressure was monitored and blood was taken before, 90 min and 300 min after saline or LPS administration.. Injection of LPS alone resulted in a decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (p < 0.05), a decrease in ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) value (p < 0.01) and a marked increase in plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Administration of BQ123 before LPS administration deteriorated MAP in a dose dependent way. Moreover, BQ123 (1 mg/kg) decreased plasma level of TBARS and TNF-α (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) and increased FRAP value (p < 0.001). On the contrary, BQ788 prevented LPS-induced decrease in MAP(p < 0.001) and led to a significant reduction in plasma TBARS concentration (p < 0.01).. Our study showed that blockage of ETB-R during endotoxemia improved blood hemodynamics and decreased plasma lipid peroxidation. Blockage of ETA-R improved plasma antioxidant status and decreased lipid peroxidation and TNF-α production, but it deteriorated hemodynamic conditions.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Arterial Pressure; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Schedule; Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin-1; Endotoxemia; Hemodynamics; Injections, Intravenous; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Oligopeptides; Oxidative Stress; Peptides, Cyclic; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Inbred WKY; Receptor, Endothelin A; Receptor, Endothelin B; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Time Factors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vasoconstrictor Agents

It is well known that endocannabinoids play an important role in the regulation of food intake and body weight. Endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors are found in the hypothalamus and brainstem, which are central areas involved in the control of food intake and energy expenditure. Activation of these areas is related to hypophagia observed during inflammatory stimulus. This study investigated the effects of cannabinoid (CB₁) receptor blockade on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hypophagia. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with rimonabant (10 mg/kg, by gavage) or vehicle; 30 min later they received an injection of either LPS (100 μg/kg, intraperitoneal) or saline. Food intake, body weight, corticosterone response, CRF and CART mRNA expression, Fos-CRF and Fos-α-MSH immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and Fos-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in the brainstem were evaluated. LPS administration decreased food intake and body weight gain and increased plasma corticosterone levels and CRF mRNA expression in the PVN. We also observed an increase in Fos-CRF and Fos-TH double-labeled neurons after LPS injection in vehicle-pretreated rats, with no changes in CART mRNA or Fos-α-MSH immunoreactive neurons in the ARC. In saline-treated animals, rimonabant pretreatment decreased food intake and body weight gain but did not modify hormone response or Fos expression in the hypothalamus and brainstem compared with vehicle-pretreated rats. Rimonabant pretreatment potentiated LPS-induced hypophagia, body weight loss and Fos-CRF and Fos-TH expressing neurons. Rimonabant did not modify corticosterone, CRF mRNA or Fos-α-MSH responses in rats treated with LPS. These data suggest that the endocannabinoid system, mediated by CB₁ receptors, modulates hypothalamic and brainstem circuitry underlying the hypophagic effect during endotoxemia to prevent an exaggerated food intake decrease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Central Control of Food Intake'.

Topics: Animals; Anorexia Nervosa; Body Weight; Brain Stem; Cell Count; Corticosterone; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Disease Models, Animal; Eating; Endotoxemia; Gene Expression Regulation; Hypothalamus; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; Microdialysis; Neurons; Oncogene Proteins v-fos; Piperidines; Pyrazoles; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Rimonabant; RNA, Messenger; Time Factors; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory conditions for which new therapeutic approaches are needed. Genetic and pharmacological data point to a protective role of CB(1) and CB(2) cannabinoid receptor activation in IBD experimental models. Therefore, increasing the endogenous levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, the main full agonist of these receptors, should have beneficial effects on colitis. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol levels were raised in the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mouse model by inhibiting monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), the primary enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, using the selective inhibitor JZL184. MAGL inhibition in diseased mice increased 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels, leading to a reduction of macroscopic and histological colon alterations, as well as of colonic expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The restored integrity of the intestinal barrier function after MAGL inhibition resulted in reduced endotoxemia as well as reduced peripheral and brain inflammation. Coadministration of either CB(1) (SR141716A) or CB(2) (AM630) selective antagonists with JZL184 completely abolished the protective effect of MAGL inhibition on TNBS-induced colon alterations, thus demonstrating the involvement of both cannabinoid receptors. In conclusion, increasing 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels resulted in a dramatic reduction of colitis and of the related systemic and central inflammation. This could offer a novel pharmacological approach for the treatment of IBD based on the new protective role of 2-arachidonoylglycerol described here.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acids; Benzodioxoles; Colitis; Disease Models, Animal; Endocannabinoids; Endotoxemia; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glycerides; Humans; Indoles; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Monoacylglycerol Lipases; Piperidines; Pyrazoles; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; Rimonabant; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid

Endotoxaemia can complicate hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Endocannabinoids appear to modulate the haemodynamic alterations and cytokine response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus, we aimed to determine the effect of the endocannabinoid CB1-receptor antagonist Rimonabant in a model of hepatic IR injury complicated by endotoxaemia.. Sprague-Dawley rats pre-treated with Rimonabant 3 or 10 mg/kg or vehicle underwent partial hepatic IR and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection at reperfusion. Liver injury was evaluated by serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and necrotic-cell count. The inflammatory response was investigated by assessing hepatic neutrophil infiltration, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interferon gamma (IFNgamma), interleukin 6 (IL6), and suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) 1 and SOCS3 gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Systolic blood pressure and hepatic blood flow were measured as haemodynamic parameters. Finally, lipid peroxidation, glutathione status, and immunoreactive CB1 receptor expression in the liver were also determined.. Liver injury and neutrophil infiltration occurring in the late-phase of LPS-enhanced IR were significantly reduced by CB1-receptor antagonism. Rimonabant-treated rats showed significantly higher gene expression of IFNgamma, IL6, SOCS1 and SOCS3 in "early" reperfusion, while that of TNFalpha was reduced. These findings were associated with increased STAT3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, CB1-receptor antagonism significantly improved the oxidative injury and haemodynamic alterations occurring during reperfusion in untreated rats. Finally, CB1-receptor immunoreactivity was upregulated early after reperfusion.. This study demonstrates that CB1-receptor antagonism protects the liver against LPS-enhanced IR injury by interfering with the inflammatory response that causes the late, neutrophil-dependent phase of reperfusion injury, although the prevention of the transient endotoxin-related hypotension occurring early during reperfusion may be also involved.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Blood Pressure; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Endotoxemia; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver; Liver Circulation; Male; Necrosis; Neutrophil Infiltration; Piperidines; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Reperfusion Injury; Rimonabant

The role of K(ATP) channels in the antiarrhythmic effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin-induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was examined in an anesthetised rat model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion arrhythmia by using glibenclamide (1 mg kg(-1)), nateglinide (10 mg kg(-1)) and repaglinide (0.5 mg kg(-1)). Endotoxin (1 mg kg(-1)) was administered intraperitoneally 4 h before the occlusion of the left coronary artery and glibenclamide, nateglinide or repaglinide was administered 30 min before coronary artery occlusion. We also evaluated the effects of K(ATP) channel blockers and nonselective K(+) channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) on cardiac action potential configuration in the atria obtained from endotoxemic rats. The mean arterial blood pressure of rats receiving endotoxin was lower during both the occlusion and reperfusion periods. Endotoxin significantly reduced the total number of ectopic beats and the duration of ventricular tachycardia. Glibenclamide, but not nateglinide and repaglinide, prevented the hypotension and antiarrhythmic effects of endotoxin. Atria obtained from endotoxin-treated rats had prolonged action potential duration. This effect was abolished with pretreatment of iNOS inhibitors, l-canavanine and dexamethasone and perfusion of glibenclamide, but not with TEA and non-sulfonylurea drug, nateglinide. We demonstrated that glibenclamide inhibits the antiarrhythmic effect of endotoxin and this effect does not appear to involve K(ATP) channels.

Topics: Action Potentials; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Blood Pressure; Carbamates; Cyclohexanes; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Interactions; Endotoxemia; Glyburide; Heart Atria; Heart Conduction System; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Nateglinide; Phenylalanine; Piperidines; Potassium Channel Blockers; Potassium Channels; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Tetraethylammonium; Time Factors; Ventricular Fibrillation; Ventricular Premature Complexes

This study looked at measurement of endotoxaemia as a tool in determining prognosis and probable response to treatment in scouring lambs. One hundred eighty-three lambs in the first 15-20 days of life, from eight Merino sheep farms located in the region of La Serena, south-west Spain, were used in this experiment. Scouring and normal/control lambs were selected following a clinical examination, the scouring group was further divided into subgroups, specifically those that did or did not survive 72 h following treatment. At the time of the clinical examination, faecal and blood samples were taken. Faecal culture and commercial faecal antigen tests for detection of enteropathogens in faeces and serum endotoxin measurement using chromogenic lymulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) were carried out. Scouring lambs received 0.07 mg/kg liveweight halofuginone once a day for 3 days, a single oral dose of 0.20 mg/kg liveweight of spectinomycin and oral rehydration fluid. The pathogens isolated were Cryptosporidium spp. and Escherichia coli. The case fatality rate was 51% in the scouring lambs. Postmortem findings were consistent with enterotoxigenic E. coli infection. The concentration of endotoxin was 0.18 +/- 0.12 ng/ml in the control group, 0.35 +/- 0.17 ng/ml in the surviving lambs and 0.46 +/- 0.14 ng/ml in the non-surviving lambs. Significant differences between groups were found. Case fatality rate of the scouring lambs with endotoxaemia below 0.30 ng/ml was 0%, while it was 100% above 0.50 ng/ml. These results may be utilized as a prognostic indicator in lambs affected by E. coli and Cryptosporidium that will help aid in decision-making as to whether to treat a lamb or not based on its chances of survival.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cryptosporidium; Decision Making; Diarrhea; Endotoxemia; Escherichia coli; Feces; Fluid Therapy; Piperidines; Prognosis; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Quinazolinones; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Survival Analysis

A possible involvement of endocannabinoids in a chronic model of endotoxemia was assessed by measuring the regional (renal, mesenteric, hindquarters) hemodynamic responses to continuous 24-h LPS infusion (150 microg.kg(-1).h(-1)) in conscious, male Sprague-Dawley rats, in the absence or presence of the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonist AM-251 (3 mg/kg). AM-251 inhibited the tachycardic and hindquarters vasodilator effects of LPS, but did not influence the other hemodynamic changes. In subsequent experiments, it was shown that the tachycardic and hindquarters vasodilator effects of LPS were also inhibited by the nonselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol. In addition, the late (at 24 h) hindquarters vasodilator effects of LPS were inhibited by the beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI-118551. Against the background of our previous work showing beta-adrenoceptor involvement in the cardiovascular effects of exogenous cannabinoids, we conclude that AM-251 may have been inhibiting endocannabinoid-modulated, sympathoadrenal-mediated activation of vasodilator beta-adrenoceptors in LPS-infused rats rather than suppressing a direct vasodilator action of endocannabinoids.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Blood Pressure; Consciousness; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Interactions; Endotoxemia; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Piperidines; Propanolamines; Propranolol; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Sympathetic Nervous System; Tachycardia; Vasodilation

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is activated by several factors, which increase the inflammatory response, and this activation, in turn, leads to the expression of several genes such as cytokines, and may play an important role in cardiovascular diseases.. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of SUN C8079, a newly synthesized NF-kappaB inhibitor in vitro and in vivo.. We examined the effects of SUN C8079 on the transcriptional responses of NF-kappaB, on activation of NF-kappaB in electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and on the gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and iNOS. We also studied effects of SUN C8079 on lethal endotoxemia and viral myocarditis in mice.. SUN C8079 inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of the genes of TNF-alpha and iNOS by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB in vitro. SUN C8079 inhibited the systemic release of TNF-alpha and improved mortality in LPS-treated mice. In addition to protecting mice against lethal endotoxemia, SUN C8079 prevented the development of myocarditis due to the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and inhibited the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and the iNOS gene in cardiac tissues.. These findings suggest that the activation of NF-kappaB plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endotoxemia and viral myocarditis, and that the NF-kappaB inhibitor, SUN C8079, may be therapeutic in these disorders.

Topics: Animals; Cardiovirus Infections; Cell Nucleus; Cells, Cultured; DNA, Complementary; Encephalomyocarditis virus; Endotoxemia; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-1; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred DBA; Myocarditis; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Piperidines; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Treatment with richlocaine alone and, especially, in combination with antihypoxant energostim decreased the total content of hydroxyproline in the ischemic skin flap on day 3 after excision. Combination therapy with richlocaine and energostim normalized the redox potential in the energy supply system, improved antioxidant protection, and promoted the recovery of a balance between various components in the antioxidant system. These changes were not accompanied enhanced production of malonic dialdehyde. Our results suggest that combination therapy with richlocaine and energostim maintains the adaptive reserves of detoxifying systems in keratinocytes and prevents endotoxemia. Richlocaine primarily stimulates glycolytic synthesis of ATP, activates nonmitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, and increases RNase activity in lysosomes.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Antioxidants; Electron Transport; Endotoxemia; Glycolysis; Hypoxia; Ischemia; Keratinocytes; Lysosomes; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mitochondria; Oxidation-Reduction; Piperidines; Rats; Ribonucleases; Skin; Time Factors

The local anesthetic richlocaine decreased the area of necrosis in the skin flap under conditions of reduced blood flow by 29.5%. Improved survival of skin flap after richlocaine treatment alleviated endogenous intoxication, reduced secondary inflammatory reaction, improved liver function, and normalized the ratio between vasoconstricting and vasodilating prostaglandins. This effect was most pronounced after combination therapy with richlocaine and direct-action antihypoxant energostim.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Antioxidants; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Cell Survival; Cytochromes c; Drug Combinations; Endotoxemia; Erythrocytes; Histamine; Hydroxyproline; Hypoxia; Inflammation; Inosine; Keratinocytes; Lactates; Male; NAD; Necrosis; Piperidines; Rats; Regional Blood Flow; Serotonin; Skin; Surgical Flaps; Time Factors; Vasodilator Agents

The cannabinoid receptor agonists [(-)-11-hydoxy-Delta(8)tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl] (HU-210) and [(R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl[pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthalenyl) methanone] (WIN 55212-2) were previously shown to downregulate inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-12) and to upregulate antiinflammatory interleukin-10 when administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) to mice before an endotoxin challenge. Cytokine modulation coincided with the onset of behavioral changes that are associated with cannabinoid agonist activated central cannabinoid CB(1) receptors. Both effects were antagonized by [N-(piperdin-1-yl)-5-(4-chloropheny)-1-(2,4-dichloropheny)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride] (SR141716A) a selective cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist. In the present study, we have investigated further the apparent role of central CB(1) cannabinoid receptors in cytokine modulation by HU-210 and WIN 55212-2. When administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), the drugs modulated cytokine responses at doses that were threefold to fourfold lower than those found effective by the i.p. route. SR141716A blocked cytokine modulation when coadministered centrally with the agonists, while a selective cannabinoid CB(2) receptor antagonist, (N-[(1S)-endo-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]5-(4-choro-3 methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide) (SR144528) had no effect. Surprisingly, SR144528 was found to modulate cytokines itself when injected i.c.v.

Topics: Animals; Benzoxazines; Camphanes; Cannabinoids; Cytokines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dronabinol; Endotoxemia; Endotoxins; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Intraventricular; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-12; Ligands; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Morpholines; Naphthalenes; Piperidines; Propionibacterium acnes; Pyrazoles; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Drug; Rimonabant; Survival Rate; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Virulence Factors, Bordetella

Previous studies have shown that mice primed with Corynebacterium parvum produce higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than unprimed mice upon challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Herein, we describe experiments in which two cannabinoid (CB) agonists, WIN 55212-2 [(R)-(+)-[2, 3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]1, 4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthyl)methanone) and HU-210 [(-)-11-hydroxy-delta(8) tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl], were examined for their effects on LPS-induced cytokines in C. parvum-primed and unprimed mice. These agonists have been reported to bind selectively to the CB2 and CB1 receptor subtypes, respectively. WIN 55212-2 (3.1-50 mg/kg i.p.) and HU-210 (0.05-0.4 mg/kg i.p.) decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-12 (IL-12) and increased IL-10 when administered to mice before LPS. The drugs also protected C. parvum mice (but not unprimed mice) against the lethal effects of LPS. The protection afforded to C. parvum mice could not be attributed to the higher levels of IL-10 present in these mice after agonist treatment. The WIN 55212-2- and HU-210-mediated changes in the responsiveness of mice to LPS were antagonized by SR141716A [N-(piperdin-1-yl)-5-(4-chloropheny)-1-(2, 4-dichloropheny)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride], a selective CB1 receptor antagonist, but not by SR144528 [N-[(1S)-endo-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2. 1]heptan-2-yl]5-(4-choro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)p yrazole-3 -carboxamide], a selective antagonist at the CB2 receptor. Therefore, both CB agonists modulated LPS responses through the CB1 receptor. Surprisingly, SR141716A itself modulated cytokine responses in a manner identical with that of WIN 55212-2 and HU-210 when administered alone to mice. The agonist-like effects of SR141716A, which were more striking in unprimed than in primed mice, suggested that the antagonist also could function as a partial agonist at the CB1 receptor. Our findings indicate a role for the CB1 receptor subtype in cytokine modulation by CB ligands.

Topics: Animals; Benzoxazines; Camphanes; Cannabinoids; Cytokines; Dronabinol; Endotoxemia; Endotoxins; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-12; Interleukin-2; Ligands; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Mice; Morpholines; Naphthalenes; Piperidines; Propionibacterium acnes; Pyrazoles; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Drug; Rimonabant; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

1. We investigated the effects of the selective endothelin (ET)A receptor antagonist BQ-485 and the selective ETB receptor antagonist BQ-788 on circulatory failure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and the alterations in acid base balance caused by endotoxaemia in the anaesthetized rat. 2. Male Wistar rats were anaesthetized (thiopentone sodium; 120 mg kg-1, i.p.) and received a continuous infusion of vehicle (saline, 0.6 ml kg-1h-1, i.v.), BQ-485 (10 nmol kg-1 min-1, i.v.) or BQ-788 (10 nmol kg-1 min-1, i.v.). Fifteen min later, animals received a bolus injection of either saline (0.9% NaCl, 1 ml kg-1, i.v.) or E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg kg-1, i.v.). 3. Injection of LPS resulted in a fall in blood pressure from 115 +/- 4 mmHg (time 0) to 82 +/- 4 mmHg at 360 min (n = 15) as well as a hyporeactivity to the pressor responses to noradrenaline (NA, 1 microgram kg-1, i.v.). Infusion of BQ-788 attenuated the delayed hypotension (at 360 min: 100 +/- 4 mmHg, n = 7; P < 0.05) and significantly enhanced the pressor responses elicited by NA (at 60 to 240 min). In contrast, treatment of LPS-rats with BQ-485 augmented the hypotension (at 360 min), but did not affect the vascular hyporeactivity elicited by endotoxaemia. 4. Endotoxaemia for 360 min resulted in rises in the serum levels of urea and creatinine (indicators of renal failure), glutamate-oxalate-transferase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate-transferase (GPT) (indicators of hepatocellular injury), and bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma GT) (indicators of liver failure) as well as nitrite (indicator of the induction of nitric oxide synthase; iNOS). Treatment of LPS-rats with BQ-788, but not with BQ-485, attenuated the degree of liver injury and failure, while neither BQ-788 nor BQ-485 affected the acute renal failure or the induction of iNOS caused by endotoxin. 5. Endotoxaemia also caused (within 15 min) an acute metabolic acidosis (falls in pH, HCO3-and base excess) which was compensated by hyperventilation (fall in PaCO2). Treatment of LPS-rats with BQ-788 or BQ-485 did not affect the metabolic acidosis caused by LPS. 6. Thus, the selective ETB receptor antagonist BQ-788 attenuated (i) the delayed hypotension, (ii) the vascular hyporeactivity to NA as well as (iii) the degree of hepatocellular injury and dysfunction caused by endotoxin in the anaesthetized rat. In contrast, the selective ETA receptor antagonist did neither attenuate the circulatory failure nor the liver or rena

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Azepines; Blood Pressure; Creatinine; Endotoxemia; Escherichia coli; Heart Rate; Hypotension; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Nitric Oxide; Oligopeptides; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Shock, Septic; Urea