Publications (22) View all
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Article: Ellagic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 in human monocytes.
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ABSTRACT: Ellagic acid, a natural polyphenol found in certain fruits, nuts and vegetables, has in recent years been the subject of intense research within the fields of cancer and inflammation. Pain, fever and swelling, all typical symptoms of inflammation, are ascribed to elevated levels of PGE2. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of ellagic acid on PGE2 release and on prostaglandin-synthesising enzymes in human monocytes. Ellagic acid was found to inhibit Ca ionophore A23187-, phorbol myristate acetate- and opsonised zymosan-induced release of PGE2 from monocytes pre-treated with the inflammatory agent lipopolysaccharide. Ellagic acid suppressed the lipopolysaccharide-induced increase in protein expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGEs-1) and cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha (cPLA2alpha), while it had no effect on the constitutively expressed COX-1 protein. Ellagic acid had no apparent inhibitory effect on these enzymes when the activities were determined in cell-free assays. We conclude that the inhibitory effect of ellagic acid on PGE2 release from monocytes is due to a suppressed expression of COX-2, mPGEs-1 and cPLA2alpha, rather than a direct effect on the activities of these enzymes.The British journal of nutrition 12/2009; 103(8):1102-9. · 3.45 Impact Factor -
Article: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in zymosan- and bacteria-induced signalling to mobilisation of arachidonic acid in macrophages.
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ABSTRACT: Stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with zymosan or bacteria results in activation of 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and release of arachidonate. We have investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-kinase) in the signalling leading to activation of cPLA(2) and release of arachidonate in response to zymosan and the bacterium Prevotella intermedia. The specific PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin completely inhibited zymosan- and bacteria-induced release of arachidonate with an IC(50) value of 10-20 nM. Wortmannin also completely inhibited the zymosan-induced activation of cPLA(2), while the cPLA(2) activation by bacteria was partially inhibited by about 50%. Further experiments showed that zymosan-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase was inhibited, and bacteria-induced activation of the kinase strongly reduced, in the presence of wortmannin. Also zymosan-induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was inhibited by wortmannin, while p38 activation induced by bacteria was not. The zymosan- and bacteria-induced activation of phospholipase C, as determined by the generation of inositol phosphates, was also inhibited by wortmannin. Moreover, zymosan caused activation of PtdIns 3-kinase, which was totally inhibited by wortmannin. In contrast to zymosan and bacteria, arachidonate release induced by calcium ionophore alone, or further amplified by phorbol ester, was not sensitive to wortmannin. These results suggest that PtdIns 3-kinase constitutes a critical component in the zymosan- and bacteria-induced signalling leading to release of arachidonate and that PtdIns 3-kinase is positioned upstream of phospholipase C in this pathway.Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 06/2000; 1485(2-3):163-72. · 4.66 Impact Factor -
Article: Mechanisms of inhibition of lipolysis by insulin, vanadate and peroxovanadate in rat adipocytes.
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ABSTRACT: Vanadate and peroxovanadate (pV), potent inhibitors of tyrosine phosphatases, mimic several of the metabolic actions of insulin. Here we compare the mechanisms for the anti-lipolytic action of insulin, vanadate and pV in rat adipocytes. Vanadate (5 mM) and pV (0.01 mM) inhibited lipolysis induced by 0.01-1 microM isoprenaline, vanadate being more and pV less efficient than insulin (1 nM). A loss of anti-lipolytic effect of pV was observed by increasing the concentration of isoprenaline and/or pV. pV induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 to a greater extent than insulin, whereas vanadate affected these components little if at all. In addition, only a higher concentration (0.1 mM) of pV induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of p85, the 85 kDa regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K). Vanadate activated PI-3K-independent (in the presence of 10 nM isoprenaline) and PI-3K-dependent (in the presence of 100 nM isoprenaline) anti-lipolytic pathways, both of which were found to be independent of phosphodiesterase type 3B (PDE3B). pV (0.01 mM), like insulin, activated PI-3K- and PDE3B-dependent pathways. However, the anti-lipolytic pathway of 0.1 mM pV did not seem to require insulin receptor substrate-1-associated PI-3K and was found to be partly independent of PDE3B. Vanadate and pV (only at 0.01 mM), like insulin, decreased the isoprenaline-induced activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Overall, these results underline the complexity and the diversity in the mechanisms that regulate lipolysis.Biochemical Journal 05/1999; 339 ( Pt 2):281-9. · 4.90 Impact Factor -
Article: Insulin-induced translocation of protein kinase B to the plasma membrane in rat adipocytes.
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ABSTRACT: Protein kinase B (PKB) has previously been shown to be activated in response to insulin and growth factor stimulation. The activation mechanism has been suggested to involve translocation of PKB to membranes, where it is phosphorylated and activated. Insulin-induced translocation of PKB has not been demonstrated in a physiological target cell. Therefore we have used the primary rat adipocyte to investigate insulin-induced translocation of PKB. In the presence of 1 nM insulin translocation of PKB was detected within 30 seconds and was blocked by wortmannin, a selective phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor. This translocation was potentiated by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate. Subcellular localization studies revealed that PKB translocated to the plasma membrane.Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 06/1998; 246(1):249-54. · 2.48 Impact Factor -
Article: Insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of phosphodiesterase 3B in rat adipocytes: possible role for protein kinase B but not mitogen-activated protein kinase or p70 S6 kinase.
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ABSTRACT: Insulin stimulation of adipocytes results in serine phosphorylation/activation of phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE 3B) and activation of a kinase that phosphorylates PDE 3B in vitro, key events in the antilipolytic action of this hormone. We have investigated the role for p70 S6 kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases), and protein kinase B (PKB) in the insulin signaling pathway leading to phosphorylation/activation of PDE 3B in adipocytes. Insulin stimulation of adipocytes resulted in increased activity of p70 S6 kinase, which was completely blocked by pretreatment with rapamycin. However, rapamycin had no effect on the insulin-induced phosphorylation/activation of PDE 3B or the activation of the kinase that phosphorylates PDE 3B. Stimulation of adipocytes with insulin or phorbol myristate acetate induced activation of MAP kinases. Pretreatment of adipocytes with the MAP kinase kinase inhibitor PD 98059 was without effect on the insulin-induced activation of PDE 3B. Furthermore, phorbol myristate acetate stimulation did not result in phosphorylation/activation of PDE 3B or activation of the kinase that phosphorylates PDE 3B. Using Mono Q and Superdex chromatography, the kinase that phosphorylates PDE 3B was found to co-elute with PKB, but not with p70 S6 kinase or MAP kinases. Furthermore, both PKB and the kinase that phosphorylates PDE 3B were found to translocate to membranes in response to peroxovanadate stimulation of adipocytes in a wortmannin-sensitive way. Whereas these results suggest that p70 S6 kinase and MAP kinases are not involved in the insulin-induced phosphorylation/activation of PDE 3B in rat adipocytes, they are consistent with PKB being the kinase that phosphorylates PDE 3B.Endocrinology 02/1998; 139(1):219-27. · 4.46 Impact Factor
