Xanthine

About: Xanthine is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4046 publications have been published within this topic receiving 129820 citations. The topic is also known as: Xanthine.

Characterization of adenosine receptors in isolated cerebral arteries of cat.

Abstract: The effect of some adenosine analogues and xanthine derivatives were studied on isolated cerebral arteries from cats. The adenosine analogues caused an almost complete relaxation of cerebral arteries contracted by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha, 30 microM). The order of potency was: 5-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than adenosine greater than L-N6-phenylisopropyl adenosine (L-PIA). The analogue D-PIA was very weak and its maximum effect was small. NECA and L-PIA enhanced [3H]-cyclic AMP accumulation in [3H]-adenine labelled feline pial vessels with similar absolute and relative potency to their relaxant effects. The relaxant effects of adenosine and of NECA were competitively antagonized by 8-phenyl-theophylline (pA2 = 6.5). The effect of theophylline and enprofylline could not be tested in higher concentrations than 30 or 10 microM because they affected the vessels directly. At these concentrations they were essentially inactive as adenosine antagonists. The non-xanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram (0.1 and 100 microM) caused a slight but non-significant potentiation of the relaxant effect of adenosine. The results are compatible with the opinion that adenosine relaxes cerebral vessels by an action on adenosine A2-receptors. The effect may be linked to adenylate cyclase and can be antagonized by 8-phenyl-theophylline.

Endothelium-dependent contractions to oxygen-derived free radicals in the canine basilar artery.

Abstract: Experiments were designed to determine the effect of oxygen-derived free radicals in isolated canine basilar arteries. Rings with and without endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recording in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2 (temperature = 37 degrees C; pH = 7.4). A radioimmunoassay technique was used to measure production of prostaglandins and thromboxane B2. Xanthine oxidase (1-9 mU/ml, in the presence of 10(-4) M xanthine) and hydrogen peroxide (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) caused concentration-dependent contractions. The removal of endothelium reversed these contractions into relaxations. Contractions to xanthine oxidase and hydrogen peroxide were inhibited in the presence of superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml), catalase (1,200 U/ml), indomethacin (10(-5) M), and SQ 29548 (10(-6) M) but not in the presence of deferoxamine (10(-4) to 10(-3) M) and dimethyl sulfoxide (10(-4) M). NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (3 x 10(-5) M) augmented the contractions to hydrogen peroxide. Xanthine oxidase stimulated production of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandin F2 alpha, prostaglandin E2, and thromboxane B2. The stimulatory effect was prevented by the removal of endothelial cells. These studies suggest that xanthine oxidase causes endothelium-dependent contractions mediated by: 1) hydrogen peroxide-induced stimulation of the endothelial metabolism of arachidonic acid via the cyclooxygenase pathway, leading to activation of prostaglandin H2-thromboxane A2 receptors, and 2) inactivation of basal production of nitric oxide by superoxide anions.

Redox regulation of chemokine receptor expression

Abstract: Cytokines and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) are frequent companions at sites of acute inflammation. We have shown previously that in human monocytes, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induce a rapid down-regulation of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 receptor CCR2 (CC chemokine receptor-2). These stimuli also induce production of ROI. In this paper, we investigate the influence of antioxidants and/or ROI on chemokine-receptor expression. In human monocytes, the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) rapidly inhibited CCR2 (95-100% of inhibition) and CCR5 (77-100% of inhibition) mRNA expression by strongly decreasing transcript stability. CCR2 half-life was decreased from 1.5 h to 45 min; CCR5 half-life was decreased from 2 h to 70 min. This inhibitory activity also included CXCR4 (CXC chemokine receptor-4) but not CXCR2 receptor and, although to a lesser extent, was shared by the antioxidants N-acetyl-l-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol. In contrast, the ROI-generating system xanthine/xanthine oxidase increased CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA expression and counteracted the inhibitory effect of PDTC. Accordingly, H(2)O(2) and the glutathione-depleting drug buthionine sulfoximine increased to different extents CCR2, CCR5, and CXCR4 mRNA expression. The PDTC-mediated inhibition of CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA expression was associated with decreased chemotactic responsiveness (>90% inhibition) and with a marked inhibition of surface-receptor expression. In contrast, xanthine/xanthine oxidase opposed the bacterial lipopolysaccharide- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated inhibition of CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA expression and increased both the CCR5 surface expression and the cell migration (3-fold) in response to macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta. These results suggest that the redox status of cells is a crucial determinant in the regulation of the chemokine system.