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Objective: To evaluate the effect of the antioxidant-like anti-inflammatory agent, ebselen, on cartilage proteoglycan degradation and to determine whether its cartilage protectant activity is related to its antioxidant activity.¶Materials and Methods: Cartilage in organ culture was stimulated with interleukin-1 (IL-1), and proteoglycan degradation was assessed by measuring the amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycan released into the media, proteoglycan synthesis evaluated by [35S]-sulfate incorporation, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was evaluated in a coupled test system using NADPH/GSSG reductase as an indicator and cyclooxygenase activity was evaluated using sheep seminal vesicle prostaglandin synthase.¶Results: Ebselen caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of IL-1-stimulated proteoglycan degradation with an IC50 of 4.7 μM. Cartilage PGE2 release was also reduced in the presence of ebselen (IC50 = 6.2 μM). However, at concentrations up to 100 μM, ebselen had no effect on the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis by IL-1. Induction of proteoglycan breakdown was also inhibited by a sulfur analog of ebselen. This analog was devoid of GSH-Px activity and was 50-fold less potent in cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity, but was equipotent to ebselen in inhibiting cartilage degradation.¶Conclusions: Ebselen, unlike other NSAIDs, blocks cartilage proteoglycan breakdown without inhibiting proteoglycan synthesis. This effect is independent of its GSH-Px activity and its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase and PGE2 production. Therefore, this compound may provide a new mechanism for protecting cartilage matrix from degradative factors in arthritic joints.

Recombinant human interleukin 1β (IL 1β) inhibits growth of B16 melanoma in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice in a dose-dependent manner when given intratumorally, intradermally, or intramuscularly over a period of 5 to 7 days. Inhibition of tumor growth was rapid and measurable within 3 days after the initial injection and occurred regardless of the route of injection. However, only intratumoral (ITU) injections of IL 1β resulted in greater than 90% inhibition in tumor growth. This enhanced inhibition of tumor growth was not dependent on T or NK cells since inhibition of tumor growth occurred in nude and Beige mice. Also, a profound lymphopenia occurred in mice receiving IL 1β. Inhibition of tumor growth did correlate with an increase in the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) in the circulation. However, only ITU injections of IL 1β increased the number of PMN's within the tumors. IM injections of IL 1β, while increasing the number of PMN's in the circulation, did not increase the influx of PMN's into the tumors. Furthermore, the transfer of PMN's directly into B16 tumors caused a 49% reduction in tumor growth without the presence of IL 1β. These results suggest that in vivo, PMN's may effectively control the growth of tumors and that IL 1β may increase this effectiveness by increasing the number of PMN's in the circulation and by locally stimulating the production of chemotactic factors for PMN's within the tumor.

Human monocyte IL-1 stimulated the release of proteoglycans from cartilage in organ culture in a concentration-related manner. This stimulation required protein synthesis as shown by inhibition with cycloheximide. The metal chelator, 1,10-phenanthroline, inhibited breakdown, suggesting the involvement of a metalloproteinase. Various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (100 microM), and the corticosteroids, dexamethasone and hydrocortisone (1-10 microM), were not effective in blocking proteoglycan release. Of the disease modifying agents tested, levamisole was ineffective while the antimalarials, chloroquine (100 microM) and hydroxychloroquine (100 microM), inhibited the action of IL-1. The free-radical inhibitor SOD (5000 U/ml but not 1000 U/ml) was effective while catalase (8000 U/ml) was not. The protective effects of SOD and the antimalarials suggest that oxygen reactive species may play a role, while lack of inhibition with NSAIDs and corticosteroids indicate that arachidonic acid metabolites may not be important in this degradative process.

Recent work suggests that one of the common biochemical characteristics of skin inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis is altered arachidonic acid metabolism with elevated levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. DuP 654, a 2-substituted 1-naphthol, is an exceptionally potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase. DuP 654 was tested in various models of skin inflammation and was found to be potent at inhibiting edema induced by the topical application of arachidonic acid, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate or the calcium ionophore A23187. DuP 654 was also effective in a murine model of contact sensitivity. DuP 654 was effective at reducing the numbers of infiltrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes in AA and TPA induced edema. These data, taken together, suggest that DuP 654 may be effective in treating human skin diseases.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cyclosporine A (CSA) and methotrexate (MTX) as potential immunomodulators in a nonestablished adjuvant arthritis (AA) model. Non-injected hind paw volumes were reduced when AA rats were treated for 18 days with CSA (100% at 10 mg/kg) or MTX (100% at 0.1 mg/kg). Body weights of drug treated AA rats were increased above untreated AA rats and were similar to non-arthritic controls. AA rats show elevated T helper (W3/25+)/T suppressor (OX 8+) cell ratios (2.0 vs. 3.1, p less than 0.01). The immunomodulators tested all returned these elevated ratios to control non-arthritic levels. Similarly, these drugs returned the reduced mitogen responses and elevated blood granulocyte numbers toward normal non-arthritic control values.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) was investigated for its ability to interact with leukotriene B4 receptors on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (hPMNs). 3H-LTB4 binding to specific receptors was reduced in a dose-dependent manner with maximal reduction at 100 microM NDGA and an IC50 of about 50 microM. Binding of another inflammatory stimulus. N-formyl-norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FNLP) was not affected by similar treatment. Chemotaxis and enzyme release stimulated by LTB4 and oligopeptide were inhibited by NDGA. In addition, LTB4-triggered inflammation in vivo in mice was inhibited by systemic administration of NDGA. These data suggest that LTB4 receptor antagonism may contribute to inhibition of inflammation by NDGA.

Oxygen free radicals have the potential to mediate cell injury. Defenses against such radicals include the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). The purposes of this study were (1) to develop an in vitro model using human cells in which to investigate a potential pharmacologic agent as an inducer of these antioxidant enzymes; (2) to investigate the phenylurea derivative N-[2-(2-oxo-1-imidazolindinyl)ethyl]-N-phenylurea (EDU) in this model with paraquat (PQ) serving as the positive control; and (3) to determine if induction of the antioxidant enzymes by EDU occurs in vivo. Human gingival fibroblasts (Gin-1) were used as the target cell in vitro; PQ and EDU, an inducer of SOD and CAT activities in plants, were evaluated as antioxidant enzyme inducers. Total SOD activity in Gin-1 cells increased 2-fold (p less than 0.05) in the presence of 1.0 mM PQ for 18-48 hr compared with untreated controls. Gin-1 cells incubated with 0.25-2.0 mM PQ for 24 hr had significantly increased total SOD (1.5 to 2.0-fold; p less than 0.05). CAT activity increased with 1.0 and 2.0 mM PQ (p less than 0.05). In the presence of PQ, GSH-PX activity decreased (p less than 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating inactivation of this enzyme. No toxicity, indicated by lactate dehydrogenase released into the incubation medium, was noted at PQ concentrations below 5.0 mM. In the presence of 0.125-2.0 mM EDU, total SOD activity in Gin-1 cells significantly increased (1.5 to 2.0-fold; p less than 0.05). CAT activity significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner (p less than 0.05), while GSH-PX activity remained constant following exposure to 0.125-2.0 mM EDU. Intraperitoneal administration of EDU to rats twice a day for 2 days at 100 mg/kg induced SOD activity in heart, liver, and lung compared to controls (p less than 0.05). CAT activity increased in the liver 56% and in the lung 36% (p less than 0.05). GSH-PX activity remained constant. Our findings indicate that Gin-1 cells are a useful model in which to study inducers of antioxidant enzymes in vitro and that the phenylurea compound EDU induces SOD and CAT activities both in vitro and in vivo.

Intratracheal administration of PMA produces acute lung injury in part due to the generation of O2-derived free radicals. This study evaluated the role of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in PMA-induced lung injury in the rat. PMA was instilled into rats intratracheally (20-60 micrograms/kg), and the lungs were lavaged 4 hr later. Total number of cells recovered from lavage after PMA treatment was not different from the total number recovered from controls; lavagable PMNs increased in a dose-dependent manner. Albumin in lavage fluid (an index of lung vascular permeability) was significantly increased at 60 micrograms/kg PMA. SOD (10,000 U) + PMA (60 micrograms/kg) reduced the albumin level but significantly increased both total number of cells and number of PMNs recovered from lavage fluid. To investigate the possibility that SOD decreases the ability of PMNs to adhere, PMN aggregation was measured in vitro. The results indicated that 10,000 U SOD can inhibit PMA-induced aggregation by 50%. In contrast, aggregation to other stimuli (e.g., fMet-Leu-Phe, A23187) was unaffected by SOD. We conclude SOD prevents PMA-induced lung permeability and diminishes PMN adherence.