Relationship of cyclic stretching of human patellar tendon fibroblasts with abnormal increase of prostaglandins E2 and leukotriene B4

To investigate the relationship between tendinopathy and higher production of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4(LTB4) induced by cyclic stretching of human patellar tendon fibroblasts.Methods We used a novel in vitro model system to mimic in vivo conditions,where human patellar tendon fibroblasts (HPTFs) were uniaxially stretched with different magnitudes of stretching (4%,8% and 12%).Non-stretched fibroblasts were used as control.The productions of PGE2 and LTB4 as well as the expression of cycloxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) were then measured every four hours of cyclic stretching.In addition,we treated the cells with inhibitors of COX or 5-LO.Results It was found that cyclic stretching of fibroblasts at 8% and 12% of stretching increased PGE2 and LTB4 levels.Blocking the COX enzyme with indomethacin (25 mol/L) decreased PGE2 levels but increased LTB4 production and vice versa.Whereas decreasing LTB4 production with MK-886 (10 μmol/L) could increase PGE2 levels compared to cells tretched without inhibitors.Conclusion Cyclic stretching of HPTFs produces high levels of PGE2 and LTB4,where a balance exists:blocking PGE2 production increases the production of LTB4,and vice versa.Therefore,this study raises the possibility that the routine use of COX inhibitors in clinical treatment of tendinopathy may exacerbate the condition by causing neutrophil-mediated inflammatory and degenerative changes in the tendon due to increased levels of LTB4,which is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils.17 refs,3 figs.

Drug repurposing of histone deacetylase inhibitors that alleviate neutrophilic inflammation in acute lung injury and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis via inhibiting leukotriene a4 hydrolase and blocking LTB4 biosynthesis

OBJECTIVE Leukotriene B4(LTB4)biosynthesis and subsequently neutrophilic inflammation may provide a potential strategy for the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI)or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF).To provide a potential strategy for the treatment of ALI or IPF,we identified potent inhibitors of Leukotriene A4 hydrolase(LTA4H),a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of LTB4.METHODS In this study,we identified two known histone deacetylase(HDAC)inhibitors,suberanilohydroxamic acid(SAHA)and its analogue 4-(dimethylamino)-N-[7-(hydroxyamino)-7-oxoheptyl]benzamide(M344),as effective inhibitors of LTA4H using enzymatic assay,thermofluor assay,and X-ray crystallographic investigation.We next tested the effect of SAHA and M344 on endogenous LTB4 biosynthesis in neutrophils by ELISA and neutrophil migration by transwell migration assay.A murine experimental model of ALI was induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)inhalation.Histopathological analysis of lung tissue using H&E staining revealed the serious pulmonary damage caused by LPS treatment and the effect of the SAHA.We next examined m RNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using q RT-PCR and ELISA to further investigate the underlying mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activities by SAHA.We also investigated the effects of SAHA and M344 on a murine experimental model of bleomycin(BLM)-induced IPF model.RESULTS The results of enzymatic assay and X-ray crystallography showed that both SAHA and M344 bind to LTA4H,significantly decrease LTB4 levels in neutrophil,and markedly diminish early neutrophilic inflammation in mouse models of ALI and IPF under a clinical safety dose.CONCLUSION Collectively,SAHA and M344 would provide promising agents with well-known clinical safety for potential treatment in patients with ALI and IPF via pharmacologically inhibiting LAT4H and blocking LTB4 biosynthesis.

Protective effects of Dioscin on TNF-α-induced collagen-induced arthritis rat fibroblast-like synoviocytes involves in regulating the LTB4/BLT pathway

Background and Objective:LTB4 has been shown to be involved in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)pathogenesis.The effect of Dioscin(Dio)on the LTB4 pathway of RA have not been reported yet.This study aimed at further exploring whether Dioscin’s effects on TNF-αinduced collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)rat fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS)connected with the LTB4 and its receptor pathway.Materials&Methods:In this experiment,control group,TNF-αgroup,and different concentrations of Dioscin groups were established.Cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay.The levels of LTB4 in the samples of above groups were measured using ELISA.The mRNA expression levels of LTA4H,BLT1,and BLT2 were detected by quantitative real time PCR,while the expression level of LTA4H proteins were detected using western blot.The distribution of LTA4H was assessed by immunofluorescence assay.Results:the LTB4 level of TNF-αgroup in sample supernatant was higher than both control group and Dioscin groups with decreased LTB4 levels(p<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of LTA4H was significantly increased in TNF-αgroup(p<0.05),whereas LTA4H expressions were significantly decreased in all Dioscin groups when compared to TNF-αgroup(p<0.05).The mRNA expressions of BLT1 and BLT2 were markedly higher in TNF-αgroup than those in control group while Dioscin treatment significantly inhibited the increased expressions of BLT1 and BLT2 induced by TNF-α(p<0.05).Conclusions:These results firstly demonstrate that the protective effect of Dioscin on TNF-αinduced FLS may involve in its reducing LTB4 production by down-regulating LTA4H expression,and may inhibit its downstream pathway by decreasing LTB4 receptors levels.This findings suggest that dioscin produces a potential therapeutic effects for RA via its influencing LTA4H/LTB4/BLT pathway.

Variants of the arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene and risk of ischemic stroke in Han Chinese of eastern China

Variants of the arachidonate 5-1ipoxygenase-activating protein （ALOX5AP） gene have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke. This study was aimed to explore the association of ALOX5AP variants with ischemic stroke risk in Han Chinese of eastern China. A total of 690 ischemic stroke cases and 767 controls were recruited. The subjects were further subtyped according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment （TOAST） criteria. On the basis of that, two polymorphisms of the ALOX5AP gene （rs10507391 and rs12429692） were determined by TaqMan genotyping assay. In addition, plasma leukotriene B4 （LTB4） levels were analyzed in these subjects. There was no evidence of association between the two variants of ALOX5AP and the risk of ischemic stroke or its TOAST-subtypes. Haplotype analysis and stratification analysis according to sex, age, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes also showed negative association. Analysis of LTB4 levels in a subset of cases and controls revealed that LTB4 levels were significantly higher in ischemic stroke cases than in the controls （70.06± 14.75 ng/L vs 57.34±10.93 ng/L; P = 0.000） and carriers of the T allele of the rs10507391 variant were associated with higher plasma LTB4 levels （P = 0.000）. The present study suggests there is no association of the two polymorphisms in the ALOX5AP gene with ischemic stroke risk in Han Chinese of eastern China.

Therapeutic Mechanism of Santeng Dingtong Recipe (三藤定痛方) on Monosodium Urate Crystal-Induced Rabbit Arthritis

Objective: To study the therapeutic mechanism of Santeng Dingtong recipe (STDT) on monosodium urate crystal (MSU) induced rabbit arthritis Methods: Forty-two rabbits were randomly divided into six groups, 7 in each group. Group 1 received 0.9% saline 2. 5 ml/kg per day by gastrogavage (ig) for 10 days; Group 2, 3 and 4 received STDT 0.125 g/kg, 1.0 g/kg and 8.0 g/kg per day respectively by ig for 10 days; Group 5 received colchicine 4. 5 mg/kg per day by ig for 4 days; and Group 6 was untreated. MSU crystals 10 mg /500ul containing polymyxin B 10 u/ml was injected into the knee joints of Group 1-5 to make rabbit arthritis models. Leukocytes in synovial lavage fluids was then counted and differentiated; pathological injury of synovial membranes was observed under HE staining; interleukin-1 beta (IL-1B), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) content in synovial lavage fluids were determined by ELISA. Results: MSU caused a rapid leukocyte infiltration and increased production of IL-1B, TNFa and LTB4 2 hrs after intra-articular injection. STDT inhibited neutrophil infiltration in synovial fluids dose-dependently, protected the synovial membrane against pathological injury and reduced the production of IL-1B, TNFa and LTB4; while colchicine did not decrease the level of TNFa, but significantly inhibited neutrophil infiltration in synovial fluid and reduced the production of IL-11B and LTB4. Conclusion: STDT exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in rabbit model of acute MSU arthritis, its mechanism being probably due to the decrease of XL-1B, TNFa and LTB4 synthesis.

Effect of Chengqi（承气）Mixture on the Synthesis of LTB4 and 5－HETE of Peritoneal Macrophages in Rats

Chengqi mixture (CM) is a Chinese herbal mixture valuable in treating acute peritonitis.The anti-inflammatory action of Chengqi mixture was investigated on the synthesis of leukotriene B4(LTB4) and shydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) of peritoneal macrophages in rats. These mediatorswere determined by Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The ultraviolet absorbanceot LTB4 was 280 nm, and of 5-HETE was 235 nm. The results indicated ditferent concentrations ot CM sig-nificantly inhibited the synthesis of LTB4 compared with the control (P<0. 01, n=16) and were dose de-pendent from 0. 15 to 10 g/L. The inhibitory rate of CM for the LTB4 exceeded 95% and for 5-HETE wasabout 70% at the dose of 5 g/L. The inhibitory rate of CM was equal to that of the flutenamic acid groupin which the final concentration was at 10-4M. The half inhibitory rates (IC50) of CM for LTB4 and that for 5-HETE were 0. 8 g/L and 1.1 g/L respectively. It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory actions of CMwas related to the inhibition of synthesis of LTB4 and SHETE from arachidonic acid via 5-lipoxygenase inmacrophages.