Presence Of Hydralazine Research Articles

Probing the architecture of the Mycobacterium marinum arylamine N-acetyltransferase active site

Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection remains an important goal of global TB eradication. To this end, targets that are essential for intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are particularly attractive. Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) represents such a target as it is, along with the enzymes encoded by the associated gene cluster, essential for mycobacterial survival inside macrophages and involved in cholesterol degradation. Cholesterol is likely to be the fuel for M. tuberculosis inside macrophages. Deleting the nat gene and inhibiting the NAT enzyme prevents survival of the microorganism in macrophages and induces cell wall alterations, rendering the mycobacterium sensitive to antibiotics to which it is normally resistant. To date, NAT from M. marinum (MMNAT) is considered the best available model for NAT from M. tuberculosis (TBNAT). The enzyme catalyses the acetylation and propionylation of arylamines and hydrazines. Hydralazine is a good acetyl and propionyl acceptor for both MMNAT and TBNAT. The MMNAT structure has been solved to 2.1 Å resolution following crystallisation in the presence of hydralazine and is compared to available NAT structures. From the mode of ligand binding, features of the binding pocket can be identified, which point to a novel mechanism for the acetylation reaction that results in a 3-methyltriazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine ring compound as product.

Adenosine A(2a)-receptor activation increases contractility in isolated perfused hearts.

Adenosine A(2a)-receptor activation enhances shortening of isolated cardiomyocytes. In the present study the effect of A(2a)-receptor activation on the contractile performance of isolated rat hearts was investigated by recording left ventricular pressure (LVP) and the maximal rate of LVP development (+dP/dt(max)). With constant-pressure perfusion, adenosine caused concentration-dependent increases in LVP and +dP/dt(max), with detectable increases of 4.1 and 4.8% at 10(-6) M and maximal increases of 12.0 and 11.1% at 10(-4) M, respectively. The contractile responses were prevented by the A(2a)-receptor antagonists chlorostyryl-caffeine and aminofuryltriazolotriazinyl-aminoethylphenol (ZM-241385) but were not affected by the beta(1)-adrenergic antagonist atenolol. The adenosine A(1)-receptor antagonist dipropylcyclopentylxanthine and pertussis toxin potentiated the positive inotropic effects of adenosine. The A(2a)-receptor agonists ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and dimethoxyphenyl-methylphenylethyl-adenosine also enhanced contractility. With constant-flow perfusion, 10(-5) M adenosine increased LVP and +dP/dt(max) by 5.5 and 6.0%, respectively. In the presence of the coronary vasodilator hydralazine, adenosine increased LVP and +dP/dt(max) by 7.5 and 7.4%, respectively. Dipropylcyclopentylxanthine potentiated the adenosine contractile responses with constant-flow perfusion in the absence and presence of hydralazine. These increases in contractile performance were also antagonized by chlorostyryl-caffeine and ZM-241385. The results indicate that adenosine increases contractile performance via activation of A(2a) receptors in the intact heart independent of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor activation or changes in coronary flow.

Changes in DNA supercoiling in fibroblasts cultured in the presence of hydralazine

We have analyzed changes in the supercoiling of nucleoid DNA of murine fibroblasts cultured in the presence of hydralazine. The entire DNA attached to the nuclear matrix was extracted from the cells and sedimented in neutral sucrose density gradients containing ethidium bromide. Nucleoids from cells treated with hydralazine responded to increasing ethidium bromide concentrations in a different way than those from control cultures. That is, supercoiled loops of DNA unwound with lower concentrations of ethidium bromide sedimented less rapidly than those of control cells, indicating that hydralazine reduced the degree of DNA supercoiling. Also, nucleoids from the drug-treated cells resisted the transition from relaxed to positive supercoiling at higher concentrations of ethidium bromide. Changes in nucleoid DNA supercoiling correlated directly with the dose of hydralazine in the fibroblast culture.

Micelle-stabilized room-temperature phosphorimetric procedure for the determination of naproxen and propranolol in pharmaceutical preparations

A direct and simple procedure for the determination of naproxen and propranolol in pharmaceutical preparations was developed. The procedure was based on the measurement of the room-temperature phosphorescence of sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar solutions of the drugs. The appropriate experimental conditions to obtain a reproducible and maximum phosphorescence signal, when sulfite is used to eliminate the oxygen from the micellar solutions, were studied. The results of the analysis of several pharmaceutical preparations were satisfactory. The presence of hydralazine in pharmaceuticals containing propranolol gave low values owing to quenching of the phosphorescence signal.

Cellular mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of hydralazine in mammalian myocardium

1. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the cellular mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of hydralazine, a vasodilator widely used for afterload reduction in patients with heart failure that has also been reported to have positive inotropic effects on the heart. After isolation, right ventricular papillary muscles from the ferret were maintained in bicarbonate-buffered salt solution (30 degrees C). A concentration-response relationship was obtained for hydralazine (10(-6) to 10(-3) M). In order to mimic different levels of catecholamine release found in heart failure, we utilized two methods of stimulation: (a) threshold punctate pulses and (b) suprathreshold punctate stimulation with voltage approximately 10% above threshold. 2. In a first group of muscles (n = 16), a maximally effective concentration of hydralazine (10(-3) M) increased peak isometric tension by 39 +/- 9% (P < 0.05). Doses lower than 10(-5) M had no significant effect. The bioluminescent Ca2+ indicator, aequorin, was loaded into a subset of these muscles (n = 7). A significant increase in peak light (i.e., intracellular Ca2+) developed, concurrently with an increase in peak tension (38 +/- 5% to 66 +/- 8%). This inotropic response was associated with a decrease in time to peak tension (ms), 221 +/- 7 to 186 +/- 5 (P < 0.05), and time to peak light, 65 +/- 4 to 52 +/- 2 (P < 0.05). These effects were markedly attenuated by pretreatment with autonomic blocking agents. 3. In a second group of muscles (n = 12), histamine was used to stimulate cyclic AMP production in the presence of propranolol. Hydralazine (3 x 10-4 M) led to a shift in the pD2 (i.e. the negative log of the concentration of histamine producing 50% of the maximal response) from 6.1 +/- 0.1 to 5.9 +/- 0.1(P <0.05), thus increasing the sensitivity of the muscles to histamine. Hydralazine also increased maximum tension from 160 +/- 77% to 195 +/- 57% (P <0.05) above baseline. Thus, hydralazine altered the potency and efficacy of histamine despite the presence of beta-adrenoceptor blockade.4. A third group of muscles were chemically skinned to examine the effects of hydralazine on myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness. Pretreatment of ferret papillary muscles with hydralazine (10-3 M)before skinning did not shift the force-pCa curve after skinning (n = 16). However, hydralazine added to previously skinned fibres desensitized the myofilaments, as indicated by a rightward shift of the force-pCa curve (n = 12). Maximum tension development was not changed.5. The pharmacological effects of hydralazine are characteristic of inotropic drugs that act mainly via cyclic AMP; however, the increase in peak tension demonstrated with histamine in the presence of hydralazine also suggests an effect on cyclic AMP-independent second messenger pathways. These data are consistent with reports that large doses of hydralazine may increase cellular levels of cyclic AMP, as well as other second messengers, by direct cardiac and indirect neuronal mechanisms.

Effects of Hydralazine on the Blood Flow in RIF-1 Tumors and Normal Tissues of Mice

Hydralazine is a peripheral vasodilator used as an antihypertensive agent. Hydralazine has been reported to potentiate tumor damage by hyperthermia as well as by hypoxic-cell-specific drugs through the reduction of tumor blood flow and pO2. In the present study, we investigated the changes in blood perfusion caused by hydralazine in S.C. RIF-1 tumors and normal tissues in C3H mice using the 86Rb uptake technique and laser Doppler flowmetry. The tumor blood flow was decreased significantly by an intravenous administration of 0.5-10.0 mg/kg hydralazine, as determined by both uptake of 86Rb and laser Doppler flowmetry. The tumor pO2 was also decreased significantly by the injection of hydralazine. On the other hand, the uptake of 86Rb was increased significantly in the skin and muscle by hydralazine. The changes seen in the skin and muscle after injection of hydralazine as assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry were similar to those assessed by uptake of 86Rb, indicating a significant increase in blood circulation in these tissues. Uptake of 86Rb remained unchanged in the kidney and decreased in the liver and spleen in the presence of hydralazine in a dose-dependent manner at 0.5-10.0 mg/kg. The decline in uptake of 86Rb in normal tissues strongly suggests that hydralazine decreases the blood flow in these normal tissues. Thus the recent proposal to use hydralazine to increase the antitumor activity of heat or certain drugs needs to be reexamined.

Hydralazine-dependent carbon dioxide free radical formation by metabolizing mitochondria.

The addition of hydralazine (1-hydrazinophthalazine) to rat liver mitochondria metabolizing malate/glutamate causes formation of a carbon-centered free radical which was spin-trapped with phenyl-t-butylnitrone (PBN) or dimethylpyrrolidine-N-oxide (DMPO). The coupling constants of the spin-trapped free radical were AN = 16.1, AH beta = 4.6 G for PBN and AN = 15.9, AH beta = 18.9 G for DMPO-trapped radical in aqueous solution. The spin-trapped free radical was shown to be the carbon dioxide anion free radical by independent synthesis, high pressure liquid chromatography separation, and electron paramagnetic resonance characterization. The amount of carbon dioxide anion free radical produced was absolutely dependent upon the presence of hydralazine and varied depending on mitochondrial substrate, with by far the highest amount produced by pyruvate. Studies with 13C-labeled pyruvate demonstrated that the carbon dioxide free radical came from C-1 of this compound.

Augmentation of adenosine-induced relaxation response with hydralazine in aortic strips.

Adenosine produced a slight but concentration-dependent relaxation in rabbit aortic strips preconstricted with norepinephrine. The effect of adenosine was markedly augmented in the presence of hydralazine. On the other hand, the adenosine-induced relaxation was attenuated by 8-phenyltheophylline, but was unaffected by indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and quinacrine, indicating that adenosine acts via purinergic receptors and that vasodilating metabolites of arachidonic acid are not involved in the relaxation. The adenosine-induced relaxation remained unaffected by S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine (NBTG) or 2'-deoxycoformycin (2'DCF), alone or combined. NBTG significantly inhibited the incorporation of [3H] adenosine, while the content of [3H] compound was increased by 2'DCF, but was unchanged by hydralazine. Hydralazine also augmented the 2-chloroadenosine-induced relaxation. These results suggest that the augmentation of adenosine-induced relaxation with hydralazine does not result from an inhibition of adenosine transport and/or adenosine deaminase. When adenosine was added, relaxation was elicited with concomitant increase in cAMP, but with no significant change in cGMP. In the presence of hydralazine, the cAMP increasing effect of adenosine was augmented, and the level of cGMP increased with adenosine. These changes in cyclic nucleotide levels might at least in part explain the augmentation of adenosine-induced relaxation with hydralazine.

Augmentation of Adenosine-Induced Relaxation Response with Hydralazine in Aortic Strips

Adenosine produced a slight but concentration-dependent relaxation in rabbit aortic strips preconstricted with norepinephrine. The effect of adenosine was markedly augmented in the presence of hydralazine. On the other hand, the adenosine-induced relaxation was attenuated by 8-phenyltheophylline, but was unaffected by indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and quinacrine, indicating that adenosine acts via purinergic receptors and that vasodilating metabolites of arachidonic acid are not involved in the relaxation. The adenosine-induced relaxation remained unaffected by S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine (NBTG) or 2’-deoxycoformycin (2’DCF), alone or combined. NBTG significantly inhibited the incorporation of [3H] adenosine, while the content of [3H] compound was increased by 2’DCF, but was unchanged by hydralazine. Hydralazine also augmented the 2-chloroadenosine-induced relaxation. These results suggest that the augmentation of adenosine-induced relaxation with hydralazine does not result from an inhibition of adenosine transport and/or adenosine deaminase. When adenosine was added, relaxation was elicited with concomitant increase in cAMP, but with no significant change in cGMP. In the presence of hydralazine, the cAMP increasing effect of adenosine was augmented, and the level of cGMP increased with adenosine. These changes in cyclic nucleotide levels might at least in part explain the augmentation of adenosine-induced relaxation with hydralazine.

Hydralazine-induced disturbances in collagen biosynthesis

The drug hydralazine ( i-hydrazinophthalazine) induces connective tissue disorders in man and in experimental animals. We have examined collagen synthesis in embryonic cartilage explants incubated in the presence of hydralazine. Hydralazine did not significantly alter the incorporation of l-[3,4- 3H 2]proline into peptide linkage; however, the formation of radioactive hydroxyproline was markedly inhibited. The inhibition of proline hydroxylation in hydralazine-treated tissues could be reversed to 70% of control values by transferring the tissues into chelator-free medium resulting in the formation of radioactive hydroxyproline. This suggests that hydralazine may inhibit protocollagen proline hydroxylase. Addition of increasing amounts of Fe 2+ did not significantly increase the yield of hydroxyproline. Experiments with partially purified protocollagen proline hydroxylase indicated that it was not possible to attain complete inhibition of the enzyme activity. The full activity could not be restored on adding Fe 2+. These data are interpreted as indicating a firm association between the enzyme and Fe 2+ and they suggest that hydralazine may form labile complexes with the enzyme-bound Fe 2+. The complex may occur as a part of an equilibrium system, and it may be dissociated by reducing the chelator concentration. This is seen when treated, intact tissues are transferred to a chelator-free medium or when Fe 2+ is added in experiments with partially purified enzyme. In the equilibrium system a part of the enzyme is available for hydroxylation and this explains the failure to completely inhibit the enzyme. The partial loss of enzyme activity in hydralazine-treated systems may be due to an irreversible alteration in the enzyme, such as the removal of the metal. Our studies indicate that the connective tissue disorders induced by hydralazine may involve the formation of hydroxyproline-deficient collagen.