Vol. 180, No. 1, 1991 October 15, 1991
BIOCHEMICALAND BIOPHYSICALRESEARCHCOMMUNICATIONS Pages 53-58
PENTOXIFYLLINE DOES NOT ACT VIA ADENOSINE RECEPTORS IN THE INHIBITION OF THE SUPEROXIDE ANION PRODUCTION OF HUMAN POLYMORPHONUCLEARLEUKOCYTES
M. Thie] 1., H. Bardenheuer 1, G.POch2o C. Made11 and K. Peter 1
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Munich, 8000 Munich 70, FRG 2 I n s t i t u t e of Pharmacodynamicsand Toxicology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria Received August 12, 1991
Summary: The i n h i b i t o r y effect of adenosine (ADO) and p e n t o x i f y l l i n e (POE) was studied alone and in combination on the N-formyl.methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated superoxide anion production of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). The pharmacological analysis of the r e s u l t s of these experiments demonstrated greater than additive and independent interaction of the drugs, representing potentiation. These results r e f l e c t differences between the s i t e s of action of ADO and POF. Accordingly, the ADO receptor antagonist 8phenyltheophylline only diminished the i n h i b i t i o n mediated by ADO., but t o t a l l y f a i l e d to affect POF. Therefore, we hypothesize that POF acts as a phosphodiesterase i n h i b i t o r , potentiating the increase in cyclic AMP induced by ADO due to the stimulation of the adenylate-cyclase of human PMNL. o 1991~oedemi~ Press, Inc.
The nucleoside ADO has been shown to i n h i b i t several leukocyte functions, such as the production of superoxide anions, degranulation, adherence, cell-mediated c y t o t o x i c i t y and can enhance the chemotactic response of PHNL (12). These pharmacodynamic effects are also shared by POF. ADO acts via s p e c i f i c receptors on the outer surface of the PMNL leading to the activation of the adenylatecyclase-system (6). In contrast, the action of POF has not yet been f u l l y understood. In general, two modes of action might be considered in the i n h i b i t i o n of leukocyte function. While the methylxanthine POF could act as an i n h i b i t o r of phosphodiesterases, i t is also possible that POF interferes with the specific ADO receptors. This l a t t e r p o s s i b i ] i t y was supported b y the findings that the specific ADO receptor antagonist BW A1433U was able to block POF in restoring the chemotactic response of human PMNL after i n h i b i t i o n by TNF(16). In order to elucidate these mechanisms, the effects of POF and ADO were investigated f o r each drug alone and in combinataion on the superoxide anion production in FHLP - stimulated PMNL. The dose-response curves obtained were t
To whom correspondence should be addressed.
53
0006-291X/91 $1.50 Copyright © 1991 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
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analyzed by the pharmacological data evaluation method described by POCH et al. (9) that allows to d i f f e r e n t i a t e the pharmacologic s i t e s of action of drugs with s i m i l i a r effects. In addition, the effect of the ADO receptor antagonist 8phenyltheophylline was tested for the ADO - and POF - mediated i n h i b i t i o n , comparison.
in
Material and Methods
Reaqents. Adenosine (ADO), p e n t o x i f y l l i n e (POF), 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), Nformyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), lucigenin, superoxide dismutase (S00, EC 1.15.1.1) and cytochalasin B were obtained from Sigma Biochemical Co. (St.Louis). Ficoll-Hypaque 400 (density 1.077) was from Biochrom (Berlin, F.RoG.). All other chemicals were of reagent grade. Isolation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was performed on freshly drawn blood of healthy volunteers by Hypaque-Ficoll gradient and dextran sedimentation. Isolated cells were washed three times in Hanks-buffered-saltsolution and kept in glass tubes at 4°C after resuspension u n t i l use. Purity and v i a b i l i t y of PMNL were more than 95~. Superoxide anion production of PMNL was measured b~ lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (14). The reaction mixture contained 10° PMNL and d i f f e r e n t agonists and was incubated in polystyrene cuvettes ( 10 min, 37°C, final volume 500 ~l) in the Biolumat counting chamber (Biolumat model 9505, Berthold, Wildbad, FRG). Thereafter, FMLP was injected and the f i n a l concgntrations of the components were as followed: FMLP 1 x lq-" M, ]ucige~nin 1 ~ 10-~ M, cytochal~sin B 5 x 10:~ g / ] , ADO 5 x 10-8 - 1 x 10-~ M, POF 10-u - 10-c M, 8-PT 5 x 10-u M. The s p e c i f i t y of lucigenin to detect superoxide anions was controlled in the presence of SOD (5pg/ml) that completely abolished the chemiluminescence a c t i v i t y . Heat inactivated SOD was without any effect on the chemiluminescence. Data evaluation and s t a t i s t i c s . The combined drug effects were evaluated by the method of POCH et a l . (9). In b r i e f , a l l data were expressed in terms of percent i n h i b i t i o n of control activation and the median values were calculated. Advantage was taken from the c u r v e - f i t t i n g program ALLFIT to construct the dose response-curves for median values. From these observed data, theoretical curves were calculated, assuming either effects for additive or independent modes of drug interaction. The chi-square of goodness-of-fit t e s t was performed by the computer program STATGRAPHICS to test for significant differences between the observed values and the calculated curves.
Results
Figure 1 shows the
i n h i b i t i o n of the chemiluminescence
a c t i v i t y of PMNL by
increasing concentrations of ADO or POF. As can be seen, the dose-response curves for ADO and POF were both sigmoidal-shaped reaching maximal values at 10" 6 H for ADO and 10-2M for POF. The half-maximal i n h i b i t o r y concentration (IC50) was about 104 times lower for ADO than for POF (IC50 = 1 x 10-7 M for ADO vs, It50 = 1 x 10-3M f o r POF). When single concentrations of POF were combined with ADO, POF dose-dependently increased the i n h i b i t i o n mediated by ADO (Fig. 2A). In order to characterize the mechanism of the drug interaction, the theoretical dose-response curves were calculated for the respective drug combinations assuming either an additive (Fig. 2B) or an independent drug interaction (Fig. 54
Vol. 180, No. 1, 1 9 9 1
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 100
600 0
,roe C
ADO
4015
i
20-
o0
-8
-4
¢50 -8
¢50
'2
-
Figure 1. Fitted dose-response-curves
of the observed effect~ of ADO or POF on the FHLP-induced 0~" production of human PMNL. PMHL (1 x 10°) were stimu]ated with FHLP (1 x 10"~ M) in the presence of increasing concentLJ'ations of ADO or POF. Contro] chemi]uminescence activity was 19 x 10° cpm / 10° PMHL. (Median, n = 6 - 8).
2C). As can be seen, the i n h i b i t i o n
experimentally observed f o r the combination
of ADO and P0F at 10-4 M or 10 -3 M was s i g n i f i c a n t l y case of an a d d i t i v e
as well
receptor
8-PT was tested,
antagonist
above t h a t expected in the
as an independent drug i n t e r a c t i o n . only the
inhibitory
When the ADO
effect
of ADO was
antagonized, while P0F was not affected (Fig.3).
Discussion
P0F has been proven to be an e f f e c t i v e therapy
of
experimental]y-induced
demonstrated an i n h i b i t i o n
therapeutic tool
multiple
organ
in the prevention and
fai]ure.
of the release of c y t o t o x i c
]eukocytes and an increase in the directed migration.
only l i t t ] e Several
studies
decrease of formation
is known about demonstrated
intrace]lu]ar of
second
pharmacodynamic e f f e c t s
of P0F on p a r t i c u l a r
the biochemical
an
increase
cell
cyclic
in
PMNL (15,16).
these effects.
of
with
a
POF with the
Interestingly,
are also shared by ADO, because t h i s 55
up to now
AMP associated
calcium suggesting an i n t e r f e r e n c e
messengers
studies
Although a lot has
functions,
pathways mediating of
vitro
P0F was e f f e c t i v e even on
those PMNL that had been primed before with cytokines (16). been learned about the e f f e c t s
In
agents from stimulated
these
nucleoside
can
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BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
lOO A. Observed BB'I! • ~ ""~" response ~ I I~E_ &
j C.
B. Expected response
•
.