Dual Inhibitor Of Cyclooxygenase Research Articles

Neuroprotective effect of herbal extracts inhibiting soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and cyclooxygenase (COX) against chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in mice

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is a novel clinical condition characterized by memory, learning, and motor function deficits. Oxidative stress and inflammation are potential factors contributing to chemotherapy's adverse effects on the brain. Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has been proven effective in neuroinflammation and reversal of memory impairment. The research aims to evaluate the memory protective effect of sEH inhibitor and dual inhibitor of sEH and COX and compare its impact with herbal extracts with known nootropic activity in an animal model of CICI. In vitro sEH, the inhibitory activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of Sizygium aromaticum, Nigella sativa, and Mesua ferrea was tested on murine and human sEH enzyme as per the protocol, and IC50 was determined. Cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg), methotrexate (5 mg/kg), and fluorouracil (5 mg/kg) combination (CMF) were administered intraperitoneally to induce CICI. The known herbal sEH inhibitor, Lepidium meyenii and the dual inhibitor of COX and sEH (PTUPB) were tested for their protective effect in the CICI model. The herbal formulation with known nootropic activity viz Bacopa monnieri and commercial formulation (Mentat) were also used to compare the efficacy in the CICI model. Behavioral parameter such as cognitive function was assessed by Morris Water Maze besides investigating oxidative stress (GSH and LPO) and inflammatory (TNFα, IL-6, BDNF and COX-2) markers in the brain. CMF-induced CICI, which was associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. However, treatment with PTUPB or herbal extracts inhibiting sEH preserved spatial memory via ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation. S. aromaticum and N. sativa inhibited COX2, but M. Ferrea did not affect COX2 activity. Lepidium meyenii was the least effective, and mentat showed superior activity over Bacopa monnieri in preserving memory. Compared to untreated animals, the mice treated with PTUPB or hydroalcoholic extracts showed a discernible improvement in cognitive function in CICI.

Beneficial effects of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) on the actions of extracellular vesicles shed by Trypanosoma cruzi in macrophages

Trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, shed extracellular vesicles (EVs) that promote the susceptibility of host cells to infection. During T. cruzi infection, the immune response of the host is important for controlling parasitism, which is necessary for survival. Macrophages produce inflammatory mediators, such as eicosanoids and nitric oxide (NO), with trypanocidal effects that control the parasite load in the early stages of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the contribution of host cyclooxygenase (COX) to the actions of EVs shed by T. cruzi strain Y (EVs-Y) in infected macrophages. RAW 264.7 macrophages exposed to EVs-Y and then infected with trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi produced less NO, and an increased number of trypomastigote forms were internalized in the cell compared to the controls, indicating that the effects exerted by EVs-Y favor the parasite. Interestingly, when macrophages were pretreated with acetylsalicylic acid, a dual COX inhibitor, before exposure to EVs-Y and subsequent infection with trypomastigote forms, there was an increase in NO production and a decrease in trypomastigote uptake compared to the controls. These results suggest that EVs-Y modulates the macrophage response in favor of T. cruzi and indicate a role for COX in the effects of EVs.

Prostaglandin E2 Regulates Bipotent Monocyte-Dendritic Progenitor Cell Lineage-Commitment.

The factors/mechanisms regulating multipotent or bipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells lineage-commitment are not well understood. In this study, we found that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a crucial physiological regulator of lineage choice for the bipotential monocyte-dendritic progenitor cell (MDP). Inhibition of endogenous PGE2 biosynthesis in mice by the dual cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, enhances bone marrow and spleen monocyte (MO) differentiation and reduces dendritic cell (DC) differentiation. Ex vivo treatment of purified MDP with indomethacin preferentially increases MO development at the expense of DC generation, whereas addition of exogenous PGE2 reverses the indomethacin-mediated alteration in MDP differentiation potential. Treatment of MDP with selective EP receptor agonists demonstrated that EP1 signaling promotes MDP differentiation into DC at the expense of MO generation. Conversely, EP1 receptor knockout mice showed reduced DC and increased MO differentiation. Mechanistic studies revealed that PGE2 increases expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor Flt3 on MDP and increases the DC-lineage-related transcription factor PU.1, while reducing expression of M-CSFR and the MO-lineage-related transcription factor MafB. These data indicate that PGE2-EP1 signaling plays a critical role in MDP lineage commitment and DC and MO differentiation.

Abstract 2237: Diclofenac as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and aldo-keto-reductase 1B10 inhibits pancreatitis-enhanced carcinogenesis in LSL-Kras G12D -Pdx-1-Cremice

Abstract Diclofenac is one of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and is recently identified as a competitive inhibitor of aldo-keto reductase family 1B10 (AKR1B10). AKR1B10 is an NADPH-dependent enzyme that exhibits lipid substrate specificity, especially for farnesyl and geranylgeranyl involved in protein prenylation (such as for Kras) and plays an oncogenic role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. In the present study, we determined the chemopreventive effects and mechanism of diclofenac on inhibiting pancreatitis-carcinogenesis in LSL-KrasG12D/Pdx1-Cre mice (called Pankras mice), particularly on Kras prenylation. Pancreatitis was induced by single i.p. injection of Cearulein (250ug/Kg body weight) for 5-week old mice, and one week after caerulein treatment, Pankras mice were fed an AIN-93M diet or a diet with 5 or 20ppm diclofenac (n=12 mice/group) for 7 months. The results showed that Diclofenac significantly reduced the severity of chronic pancreatitis, as measured by the extent of acini loss, inflammatory cell infiltration and stromal fibrosis. The progression of low-grade mPanIN I to high-grade mPanIN II/III and to invasive carcinoma was significantly suppressed and the tumor incidence significantly reduced to 50% and 17% in the mice treated with either 5ppm or 20 diclofenac compared to 86% in Pankras mice. Inhibition of membrane-bound mutant Kras (prenylated) and its transmitted phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase's kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinases were demonstrated in pancreatic tissues by western blot assay. Analysis of the eicosanoid profile revealed a significant reduction of prostaglandin E2. These results indicate that diclofenac is a highly potential agent for preventing chronic pancreatitis and carcinogenesis, mainly via targeting mutant Kras and inflammation (Supported by NIH R01 CA164041). Citation Format: Jie Liao, Leyu Sun, Haonan Li, Rong Xia, Xiaoming You, Dandan Xu, Guang-Yu Yang. Diclofenac as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and aldo-keto-reductase 1B10 inhibits pancreatitis-enhanced carcinogenesis in LSL-KrasG12D-Pdx-1-Cremice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2237.

Novel N-substituted 5-aminosalicylamides as dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes: Synthesis, biological evaluation and docking study

Three new series of 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives; series I (14, 16–18), series II (19–30) and series III (31–41) were synthesized as potential dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors. Their chemical structures were confirmed using spectroscopic tools including IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The anti-inflammatory activity for all target compounds was evaluated in vivo using carrageenan-induced paw edema. Compound 36 showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity (114.12%) relative to reference drug indomethacin at 4 h interval. Selected derivatives were evaluated in vitro to inhibit ovine COX-1, human recombinant COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes. Compounds 34 &35 exhibited significant COX-2 inhibition (IC50 = 0.10 µM) with significant COX-2 selectivity indices (SI = 135 & 145 respectively) approximate to celecoxib (IC50 = 0.049 µM, SI = 308.16) and exceeding indomethacin (IC50 = 0.51 µM, SI = 0.08). Interestingly, all compounds showed superior 5-LOX inhibitory activity about 2–5 times relative to zileuton. Compound 16 was the superlative 5-LOX inhibitor that revealed (IC50 = 3.41 µM) relative to zileuton (IC50 = 15.6 µM). Compounds 34, 35, 36 and 41 showed significant dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitions. The gastric ulcerogenic effect of compound 36 was examined on gastric mucosa of albino rats and they showed superior GI safety profile compared with indomethacin. Molecular docking studies of the compounds into the binding sites of COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX allowed us to shed light on the binding mode of these novels dual COX and 5-LOX inhibitors.

Targeted profiling of arachidonic acid and eicosanoids in rat tissue by UFLC–MS/MS: Application to identify potential markers for rheumatoid arthritis

We describe a method for the targeted analysis of bioactive arachidonic acid metabolites through cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway in knee joint, liver, kidney, spleen and heart using an ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass (UFLC–MS/MS) method. Method validation was investigated, including linearity, precision, accuracy, matrix effect, extraction recovery and stability for the simultaneous analysis of prostaglandins (PGs), thromboxanes (TXs), leukotrienes (LTs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). The method enables us to chromatographically separate branched-chain species from their straight-chain isomers as well as separate biologically important eicosanoids. The concentrations of the following major eicosanoids were significantly increased in rheumatoid arthritis model rats than in normal ones: 5-HETE, 8-HETE, 12-HETE, 15-HETE, PGF2α, TXB2, 5-HpETE, LTE4, PGE2, PGD2, LTB4. Further multivariate data analysis (partial least square-discriminant analysis) showed COX products (PGs, TXs) were readily distributed towards liver and kidney, LOX products (LTs, HETEs) towards knee joint and spleen, and heart had no characteristic metabolites. The method described here offers a useful tool for the evaluation of complex regulatory eicosanoids responses in RA disease states and provides support for use of dual inhibitors of COX and LOX enzymes on RA treatment.

Opuntia dillenii cladode: Opuntiol and opuntioside attenuated cytokines and eicosanoids mediated inflammation

Ethanopharmacological relevanceOpuntia dillenii Haw (Nagphana) traditionally used against inflammation. The present study addressed the anti-inflammatory activity of O. dillenii derived methanol extract, fractions and pure compounds and their underlying mechanism of action. Materials and methodsO. dillenii cladode methanol extract was subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) furnishing two main fractions viz (T-1 and -2) leading to isolation of opuntiol (aglycone) and opuntioside (O-glucoside), respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity of extract, fractions, pure compounds and reference drugs were evaluated using: (1) arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema accompanied by histological studies of mice ear sections and phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-induced mice paw edema. (2) Carrageenan and glycogen-induced peritonitis in rodents. In parallel levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also determined via HPLC and fluoroemetrically using 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) dye, respectively. Additionally, levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukins IL-1β and -6 were measured by ELISA assay. ResultsO. dillenii methanol extract, fractions and pure compounds reduced AA and TPA-induced ear punch weight in a dose dependent fashion. The corresponding IC50 values obtained also suppressed inflammatory features observed histologically. Furthermore, paw edema and peritonitis were also attenuated. Similar to indomethacin and diclofenac sodium, opuntioside reduced PGE2 levels of inflamed ear which was comparatively 1.3× better than opuntiol. However, opuntiol was more potent in reducing LTB4 levels in rat neutrophils with an IC50 value of 19±3.3μΜ, while opuntioside was ineffective. Opuntiol also effectively suppressed ROS (37%) and cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β and -6) by ~50% and comparable to dexamethasone. ConclusionsO. dillenii cladodes possess anti-inflammatory properties via inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolites and cytokines. Opuntiol (aglycone) emerged as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipooxygenase (LOX) pathways. It also suppressed ROS and cytokine levels. However, opuntioside manifested its selectivity towards COX (PGE2) pathway without affecting LTB4 levels. The present report describing the anti-inflammatory activity of opuntiol and opuntioside for the first time thereby, supporting and justifying the traditional use of O. dillenii against inflammation and may serve as lead compound in designing of new anti-inflammatory agents.

Metabolomic approach and in silico methods for the discovery of dual inhibitors of COX and LOX from Aldama species (Asteraceae)

The genus Viguiera Kunth is the largest taxa of subtribe Helianthinae (tribe Heliantheae, Asteraceae) and recently its South American species were transferred to the genus Aldama La Llave [1]. Previous studies have shown that Aldama species have anti-inflammatory potential due to the presence of sesquiterpene lactones [2] as well as phenolic compounds. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory potential of Aldama species through inhibition of the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) concomitantly as well as to identify their bioactive compounds using a metabolomic approach and in silico methods. Seventy nine species from different genera of Asteraceae were collected in the Brazilian vegetations “Mata Atlântica”, “Pampa” and, principally, in the “Cerrado”, and among them 21 comprised Aldama species. Dried and powdered leaves of each species were macerated in EtOH-H2O 7:3 (v/v, 2 mL; 25 oC) in an orbital shaker for 24h to yield their respective crude extracts. One aliquot of each extract was analyzed by UHPLC-UV-HRFTMS (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA), and another one was tested in vitro using COX-1 and 5-LOX inhibitor screening assay kits (Cayman Chemical®, USA). From the 79 species, 14 showed dual inhibition. LC-MS data in the negative mode were normalized using the software MZmine 2.10 (MZmine Development Team, USA) and evaluated in SIMCA-P 13.0.2.0© (Umetrics, Sweden). A prediction model using O2PLS-DA was built using nine active species (R2 = 0.99, Q2 = 0.67 and accuracy = 68.75%) and it was found that three so far uninvestigated Aldama species have potencial to inhibit both enzymes. The active compounds were dereplicated using commercial and in house natural products databases and are currently being isolated to further confirm their biological activities.

Dual and selective lipid inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenase: a molecular docking study

The side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) concern the public, the government, and pharmaceutical companies. NSAIDs act as inhibitors of cyclooxygenases which are the major cause of pain and inflammation in our body. However, the inhibition of cyclooxygenases could divert arachidonic acid metabolism toward the lipoxygenase pathway leading to other forms of inflammation and tissue damage. Hence a common inhibitor that could block the action of both cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenase is of interest in medicinal chemistry research. Further, the inhibition of both cyclooxygenases-1 and 2 would result in more side effects, since blocking the action of cyclooxygenase-1 would cause gastrointestinal disturbance. Therefore, there is a need to find an inhibitor that acts on cyclooxygenase-2 and lipoxygenase without disturbing the action of cyclooxygenase-1. A molecular docking study with eight lipid ligands was conducted to find the common and selective inhibitors of these three enzymes. Docking with extra precision mode and standard precision mode was performed to find the suitable docking method using the Glide software tool. Docking with extra precision mode yielded better results than with standard precision mode. The docking results are validated using a receiver operator characteristic curve. Further, molecular dynamic simulations were performed for the docked complexes of lowest binding energies. The confirmations obtained from molecular dynamic simulations are more stable and credible than the docked confirmations. Docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, 2-arachidonyl glycerol, and anandamide are identified as dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenase. α-Tocotrienols are shown to be selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 and lipoxygenase.

Celecoxib does not affect the release of hyaluronic acid in end stage osteoarthritic joints

Objectives Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs play a major role in the management of osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unknown whether these drugs affect cartilage and synovial metabolism in osteoarthritic joints. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, on synovial fluids and tissues in severely osteoarthritic knees.Methods Patients were randomized into three groups and medicated two weeks prior to total knee arthroplasty with celecoxib, diclofenac sodium, or no medication (control). We checked for the presence of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the synovial fluids of all three groups.Results MMP-3 significantly decreased in the celecoxib-treated patients (p = 0.0031). On the other hand, there were no significant differences among the three groups in their TNF-α and IL-1β levels. HA in the joint fluid was significantly increased in the diclofenac-treated group, while HA was not changed in the celecoxib-treated patients.Conclusions Our study suggests that celecoxib did not affect the level of HA in the joint fluid in the knee in severe OA, in contrast to the effect of the dual COX inhibitor.

GCG100649, A Novel Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor, Exhibits a Drug Disposition Profile in Healthy Volunteers Compatible With High Affinity to Carbonic Anhydrase-I/II: Preliminary Dose-Exposure Relationships to Define Clinical Development Strategies.

CG100649, proposed as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and carbonic anhydrase (CA)-I/-II, is long-lived in plasma and whole blood. The mean ± SD half-lives were 131 ± 19 and 127 ± 33 hours, respectively, after administration of oral single doses of 2 or 8 mg CG100649 to healthy volunteers. The whole blood to plasma concentration ratio (78 ± 23) for CG100649 is linear over the dosing interval reflecting a biodistribution pattern consistent with other strong CA-inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide, methazolamide). A one compartment model with first order absorption and elimination described CG100649 concentration-time profiles well. Estimates (%relative SD) between plasma and whole blood were in agreement for the absorption rate constant, 1.54 (58.6) and 1.43 (28.0) hour(-1) , respectively, but considerably different for clearance, 3.29 (10.4) and 0.04 (7.7) L/h/70 kg, and for volume of distribution, 559 (6.7) and 7.6 (2.4) L/70 kg, respectively. The extent to which these unique PK characteristics of CG100649 discriminate it from other COX-2 inhibitors will be the subject of future investigation.

Licofelone abolishes survival of carcinogenic fibroblasts by inducing apoptosis

Dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism prevent cancer development and induce apoptosis. One of the most promising compounds that blocks both of these pathways is licofelone. We questioned whether licofelone affects the survival and/or promotes apoptosis of H-ras transformed rat embryonic fibroblast (5RP7) cells in vitro. Using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and colchicine as positive controls, we determined cell viability with 3-3-(4,5-D-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, thyazolyl blue (MTT), apoptosis with flow cytometry and activity of caspase enzyme with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Compared to the control, all used six doses (10, 50, 100, 150, 250 and 250 µM) of 5-FU, colchicine and licofelone, which were cytotoxic and reduced the number of H-Ras transformed 5RP7 cells by as much as 78, 72 and 92%, respectively. In addition, we found that 150, 200 and 250 µM of licofelone induced apoptosis and necrosis of H-Ras transformed 5RP7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Each three tested drugs at 250 µM also increased the level of caspase-3 enzyme up to 5-fold. Although colchicine was effective in inducing early apoptosis, licofelone had much more capacity to induce the total of early plus late apoptosis by approximately 96% in cells after 48 hours. The present study reveals the possibility that licofelone posseses strong dose- and time-dependent anticancer and apoptotic properties on carcinogenic fibroblasts.

Celecoxib does not affect the release of hyaluronic acid in end stage osteoarthritic joints

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs play a major role in the management of osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unknown whether these drugs affect cartilage and synovial metabolism in osteoarthritic joints. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, on synovial fluids and tissues in severely osteoarthritic knees. Patients were randomized into three groups and medicated twoweeks prior to total knee arthroplasty with celecoxib, diclofenac sodium, or no medication (control). We checked for the presence of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the synovial fluids of all three groups. MMP-3 significantly decreased in the celecoxib-treated patients (p=0.0031). On the other hand, there were no significant differences among the three groups in their TNF-α and IL-1β levels. HA in the joint fluid was significantly increased in the diclofenac-treated group, while HA was not changed in the celecoxib-treated patients. Our study suggests that celecoxib did not affect the level of HA in the joint fluid in the knee in severe OA, in contrast to the effect of the dual COX inhibitor.

Trihydroxyflavones with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory efficacy

The classical anti-inflammatory therapies are frequently ineffective and present numerous and severe side effects, especially in long term use, which requires the development of anti-inflammatory drugs with different scaffolds and mechanisms of action. Owing to the high antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activities already inferred for hydroxyflavones, we found it would be relevant to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of a series of trihydroxyflavones by testing their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in cells and cell-free systems and to inhibit the proinflammatory pathways mediated by the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), in which reactive species have a proven involvement. The tested trihydroxyflavones proved to be effective inhibitors of neutrophils' oxidative burst and were shown to scavenge different ROS and RNS in cell-free systems. The most active compound in the majority of the assays was 3,3',4'-trihydroxyflavone, which was somehow expected due to the presence of the ortho-dihydroxy in the B-ring, an important structural feature in terms of free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, the studied compounds were able to inhibit the production of leukotriene B(4) by 5-LOX in activated neutrophils. 3,5,7-Trihydroxyflavone was able to inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2, which makes it a dual inhibitor of COX and 5-LOX pathways and, therefore, a promising candidate for a new therapeutic option in the treatment of inflammatory processes.

Flavocoxid, a dual inhibitor of COX-2 and 5-LOX of natural origin, attenuates the inflammatory response and protects mice from sepsis.

IntroductionCecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is an inflammatory condition that leads to multisystemic organ failure. Flavocoxid, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), has been shown in vitro to possess antiinflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat macrophages by reducing nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity and COX-2, 5-LOX and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of flavocoxid in a murine model of CLP-induced polymicrobial sepsis.MethodsC57BL/6J mice were subjected to CLP or sham operation. In a first set of experiments, an intraperitoneal injection of flavocoxid (20 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered 1 hour after surgery and repeated every 12 hours. Survival rate was monitored every 24 hours throughout 120 hours. Furthermore, additional groups of sham and CLP mice were killed 18 hours after surgical procedures for blood-sample collection and the lung and liver were collected for biomolecular, biochemical and histopathologic studies.ResultsCOX-2, 5-LOX, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, extracellular-regulated-kinase 1/2 (ERK), JunN-terminal kinase (JNK), NF-κB, and β-arrestin 2 protein expression were evaluated in lung and liver with Western blot analysis. In addition, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cytokines, and lipoxin A4 serum content were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flavocoxid administration improved survival, reduced the expression of NF-κB, COX-2, 5-LOX, TNF-α and IL-6 and increased IL-10 production. Moreover, flavocoxid inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway, preserved β-arrestin 2 expression, reduced blood LTB4, PGE2, TNF-α and IL-6, and increased IL-10 and lipoxin A4 serum levels. The treatment with flavocoxid also protected against the histologic damage induced by CLP and reduced the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung and liver.ConclusionsFlavocoxid protects mice from sepsis, suggesting that this dual inhibitor may represent a promising approach in such a life-threatening condition.

General pharmacology of the butanamide derivative S 19812, a new dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.

S 19812 (N-hydroxy-N-methyl-4-(2,3-bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)-thiophen-5-yl) butanamide, CAS 181308-68-9), a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, was evaluated in different models of pain and inflammation. Its gastric tolerance was also investigated. After acute oral treatment S 19812 exhibited a non-opioid analgesic activity observed in the phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing model in mice (ED50 = 2.1 mg/kg) and in the carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia model in rats (ED50 = 9.1 mg/kg, preventive treatment; 8.3 mg/kg, curative treatment). Anti-inflammatory activity was observed in the adjuvant-induced arthritis in rat (inhibition of edema ED50 = 11 mg/kg/day p.o., day 28). In rats and mice, S 19812 exhibited an excellent gastric tolerance at doses up to 800 mg/kg p.o.

Synthesis of the butanamide derivative S 19812, a new dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.

The general synthetic pathway and the interactions with arachidonic acid metabolism of the new compound S 19812 (N-hydroxy-N-methyl 4-(2,3-bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)-thiophen-5-yl)butanamide, CAS 181308-68-9) were investigated. S 19812 was selected for its well balanced dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways in vitro in rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) (IC50 PGE2: 0.10 mumol/l, LTB4: 0.07 mumol/l) and ex vivo in mice blood (ED50 PGE2: 13.1 mg/kg, LTB4: 20.8 mg/kg). These properties make this drug a promising therapeutic agent for pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Salicylic Acid and N‐Acetyl‐2‐carboxybenzenesulfonamide Regioisomers Possessing a N‐Difluoromethyl‐1,2‐dihydropyrid‐2‐one Pharmacophore: Dual Inhibitors of Cyclooxygenases and 5‐Lipoxygenase with Antiinflammatory Activity.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one acetic acid regioisomers: Dual Inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and 5-lipoxygenase

A new group of acetic acid ( 7a– c, R 1 = H), and propionic acid ( 7d– f, R 1 = Me), regioisomers wherein a N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one moiety is attached via its C-3, C-4, and C-5 position was synthesized. This group of compounds exhibited a more potent inhibition, and hence selectivity, for the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) relative to the COX-1 isozyme. Attachment of the N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one ring system to an acetic acid, or propionic acid, moiety confers potent 5-LOX inhibitory activity, that is, absent in traditional arylacetic acid NSAIDs. 2-(1-Difluoromethyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-5-yl)acetic acid ( 7c) exhibited the best combination of dual COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibitory activities. Molecular modeling (docking) studies showed that the highly electronegative CHF 2 substituent present in 7c, that showed a modest selectivity for the COX-2 isozyme, is oriented within the secondary pocket (Val523) present in COX-2 similar to the sulfonamide (SO 2NH 2) COX-2 pharmacophore present in celecoxib, and that the N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one pharmacophore is oriented close to the region containing the LOX enzyme catalytic iron (His361, His366, and His545). Accordingly, the N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihyrdopyrid-2-one moiety possesses properties suitable for the design of dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitory drugs.

Eicosanoids mediate hemolymph oxidative and antioxidative response in larvae of Galleria mellonella L.

Antioxidant enzymes play a major role in the defense against pro-oxidative effects of xenobiotics and pro-oxidant plant allelochemicals in insects. We posed the hypothesis that eicosanoids also mediate antioxidant enzymatic defense reactions to pro-oxidant challenge. To test this idea, we reared first-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (L.) with the lypoxygenase inhibitor, esculetin (0.001%), the phospholipase A 2 inhibitor, dexamethasone (0.001%) and the dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, phenidone (0.1%) to seventh-instars. Newly ecdysed seventh-instars were then fed on artificial diet containing 0.05% xanthotoxin (XA) for 2 days. Treating seventh-instar larvae of G. mellonella with XA induced lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation as evident from the increased content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls respectively, and antioxidative enzymatic response in a dose-dependent manner. High dietary XA concentrations (0.005 and 0.1%) were associated with increasing MDA and carbonyl content (by 3-fold) and antioxidant enzyme activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (by 3-fold) and catalase (CAT) (by 4-fold), and glutathione-dependent enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) (by 15-fold) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (by 7-fold). Relative to control, eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs) esculetin, dexamethasone and phenidone also resulted in impaired MDA content and antioxidant enzyme activities. However, carbonyl content did not differ between control- and EBIs-feeding larvae. Finally, MDA and carbonyl content, and antioxidant enzymes SOD, GST and GPx activities exhibited an incremental increase while CAT activity was decreased in the experimental larvae that had been reared on media amended with esculetin, dexamethasone and phenidone and then challenged with our standard XA challenge dose. Two of the markers indicated that significantly higher levels of oxidative stress were produced in the hemolymph tissue of larvae fed diets supplemented with EBIs and then challenged with XA. This oxidative stress was associated with elicited antioxidative responses by increasing SOD, GST and GPx and decreasing CAT activities in hemolymph. We infer from these findings that eicosanoids mediate insect antioxidant enzymatic responses to dietary pro-oxidants.