Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P43026 (lipopolysaccharide)
62,215 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Targeted mutagenesis of the glucocorticoid receptor has revealed an essential function for survival and the regulation of multiple physiological processes. To investigate the effects of an increased gene dosage of the receptor, we have generated transgenic mice carrying two additional copies of the glucocorticoid receptor gene by using a yeast artificial chromosome. Interestingly, overexpression of the glucocorticoid receptor alters the basal regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in reduced expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotrope hormone and a fourfold reduction in the level of circulating glucocorticoids. In addition, primary thymocytes obtained from transgenic mice show an enhanced sensitivity to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Finally, analysis of these mice under challenge conditions revealed that expression of the glucocorticoid receptor above wild-type levels leads to a weaker response to restraint stress and a strongly increased resistance to lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxic shock. These results underscore the importance of tight regulation of glucocorticoid receptor expression for the control of physiological and pathological processes. Furthermore, they may explain differences in the susceptibility of humans to inflammatory diseases and stress, depending on individual prenatal and postnatal experiences known to influence the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor.
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PMID:Mice with an increased glucocorticoid receptor gene dosage show enhanced resistance to stress and endotoxic shock. 1107 99

The influence of social disruption stress (SDR) on the susceptibility to endotoxic shock was investigated. SDR was found to increase the mortality of mice when they were challenged with the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Histological examination of SDR animals after LPS injection revealed widespread disseminated intravascular coagulation in the brain and lung, extensive meningitis in the brain, severe hemorrhage in the lung, necrosis in the liver, and lymphoid hyperplasia in the spleen, indicating inflammatory organ damage. In situ hybridization histochemical analysis showed that the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor mRNA was down-regulated in the brain and spleen of SDR animals while the ratio of expression of AVP/CRH-the two adrenocorticotropic hormone secretagogue, increased. After LPS injection, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, was found significantly higher in the lung, liver, spleen, and brain of the SDR mice as compared with the LPS-injected home cage control animals. Taken together, these results show that SDR stress increases the susceptibility to endotoxic shock and suggest that the development of glucocorticoid resistance and increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines are the mechanisms for this behavior-induced susceptibility to endotoxic shock.
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PMID:Social stress increases the susceptibility to endotoxic shock. 1128 52

Events in utero appear to be important factors contributing to the development of somatic disorders at adult age. The aim of this study was to examine whether maternal immune challenge would be followed at adult age by metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in the offspring. Pregnant rats were given injections of either endotoxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide; 0.79 mg/kg, ip) or vehicle on days 8, 10, and 12 of gestation. Adult male offspring to lipopolysaccharide-exposed dams were heavier than controls (P < 0.05) and showed increased adipose tissue weights (P < 0.05), elevated food intake (P < 0.05), and increased circulating leptin (P < 0.01). The effect of insulin on glucose uptake was reduced, as measured by an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique (P < 0.05). Serum levels of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone were elevated (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Baseline levels of corticosterone were normal, but the corticosterone response to stress was attenuated (P < 0.05), and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor protein was up-regulated (P < 0.05). Female offspring were uninfluenced, except for increased testosterone levels (P < 0.05), increased baseline corticosterone levels (P < 0.05), and enlargement of heart and adrenals (P < 0.05). The results indicate that maternal endotoxemia leads to obesity, insulin resistance, and high serum levels of leptin in the adult male offspring. This study reports a novel animal model of obesity with features of the metabolic syndrome.
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PMID:Maternal endotoxemia results in obesity and insulin resistance in adult male offspring. 1135 13

In a continuing effort to increase local to systemic activity ratios of potent steroidal antiinflammatory antedrugs, a series of 21-O-acyl derivatives of methyl 3,20-dioxo-9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta,17 alpha,21-trihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-16 alpha-carboxylate, FP16CM, were synthesized. These derivatives were evaluated for antiinflammatory activity and their adverse effects in an acute and semi-chronic croton oil-induced ear edema bioassay. Following a single topical application in the croton oil-induced ear edema bioassay, treatment with all the compounds resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of edema. From these dose-response profiles, the following ID(50) values (nmol/ear resulting in a 50% reduction of edema) were calculated: prednisolone (Pred); 454, FP16CM; 255, 21-acetate (FP16CM-acetyl); 402, 21-propionate (FP16CM-propionyl); 474, 21-valerate (FP16CM-valeryl); 446 and 21-pivalate (FP16CM-pivalyl); 219 nmol. In a 5-day semi-chronic study at the equipotent doses, the novel steroidal antedrugs did not significantly alter body weight gain, thymus weights or plasma corticosterone levels unlike the parent compound Pred. The compounds were assessed for high-affinity glucocorticoid receptor binding and glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) generation in an in vitro RAW 264.7 macrophage cell culture system. Binding affinities for cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors were Pred; 85, FP16CM-acetyl; 86, FP16CM-propionyl; 169, FP16CM-valeryl; 149, FP16CM-pivalyl; 126 nM, respectively. Concomitant potencies for inhibition of NO generation by macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide were Pred; 159, FP16CM-acetyl; 377, FP16CM-propionyl; 405, FP16CM-valeryl; 344, FP16CM-pivalyl; 311 nM, respectively. Collectively, results of these investigations suggest that esterification of 21-OH with various anhydrides did not improve receptor binding, inhibition of NO generation and ear edema inhibition, however, serum corticosterone level and local over systemic activities (L/S) were markedly improved.
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PMID:New steroidal antiinflammatory antedrugs: Methyl 3,20-dioxo-9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta,17 alpha,21-trihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-16 alpha-carboxylate and its 21-O-acyl derivatives. 1185 45

Exposure to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) is quite common and may increase human susceptibility to chemical-induced tissue injury. The purpose of this study was to identify mechanisms by which LPS potentiates lymphoid tissue depletion in B6C3F1 mice exposed to the common food-borne trichothecene mycotoxin, vomitoxin (VT). As demonstrated by DNA fragmentation and flow cytometric analysis, apoptosis in thymus, Peyer's patches, and bone marrow was marked in mice 12 h after administering Escherichia coli LPS (0.1 mg/kg body wt ip) concurrently with VT (12.5 mg/kg body wt po), whereas apoptosis in control mice or mice treated with either toxin alone was minimal. Based on observed increases in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-6 serum concentrations following LPS and VT cotreatment, the roles of these cytokines in apoptosis potentiation were assessed. Injection with rolipram, an inhibitor of TNF-alpha expression, or use of IL-6 knockout mice was ineffective at impairing thymic apoptosis induction by the toxin cotreatment, suggesting that these cytokines did not mediate LPS potentiation. Toxin cotreatment increased splenic cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression, suggesting possible involvement of prostaglandins in apoptosis. However, indomethacin, a broad spectrum inhibitor of cyclooxygenases, failed to block thymus apoptosis. Toxin cotreatment increased serum corticosterone and, furthermore, RU 486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, significantly abrogated apoptosis in thymus, Peyer's patches, and bone marrow following LPS + VT exposure. The results presented herein and the known capacity of glucocorticoids to cause apoptosis indicate that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plays a key role in LPS potentiation of trichothecene-induced lymphocyte apoptosis.
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PMID:Endotoxin potentiation of trichothecene-induced lymphocyte apoptosis is mediated by up-regulation of glucocorticoids. 1192 76

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the inhibitors of different PDE isoenzymes (PDE 1-5) on the production of two pro-inflammatory cytokines - tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Two in vitro models were used to compare the antiinflammatory properties of PDE inhibitors with that of glucocorticoids. The effect on TNF release from diluted human blood following lipopolysaccharide (LPS from Salmonella abortus equi) stimulation as well as the GM-CSF and TNF release from human nasal polyp cells following allergic stimulation were investigated. Both models proofed to be well suited for the characterisation of the antiinflammatory properties of new chemical entities. In diluted human blood and dispersed human nasal polyp cells the induced TNF release was most potently suppressed by selective PDE4 inhibitors. Amrinone and milrinone, selective PDE3 inhibitors, suppressed TNF secretion to a lesser extent. The effects of theophylline (unspecific PDE inhibitor), vinpocetine (PDE1 inhibitor), EHNA (PDE2 inhibitor) and the PDE5 inhibitors zaprinast and E 4021 were weak. In human blood, the tested glucocorticoids beclomethasone, dexamethasone and fluticasone inhibited the LPS induced TNF release potently in a concentration dependent manner, whereas in dispersed human nasal polyp cells, the effect of the glucocorticoids on allergically induced TNF release, with the exception of dexamethasone, was much less pronounced. Glucocorticoids were the most potent inhibitors of GM-CSF release and the effect correlates well with the affinity to the glucocorticoid receptor. The selective PDE 4 inhibitors, and to a certain extent the PDE3 inhibitors amrinone and milrinone, reduced the GM-CSF release in a concentration dependent manner. In all investigations selective PDE4 inhibitors reduced TNF release to a much higher degree (4-10 fold) than GM-CSF release.
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PMID:Modulation of TNF and GM-CSF release from dispersed human nasal polyp cells and human whole blood by inhibitors of different PDE isoenzymes and glucocorticoids. 1196 59

We examined the immunomodulatory potential of acute fenfluramine administration, by measuring production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in response to an in vivo challenge with bacterial lipopolysaccharide in rats. Fenfluramine (2.5-10 mg/kg) suppressed tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, but only fenfluramine (5 and 10 mg/kg) suppressed interleukin-1beta production. Fenfluramine (10 mg/kg)-induced suppression of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production persisted for 6 and 24 h, respectively. Using in vitro analyses, we demonstrated that the immunosuppressive effect of fenfluramine was not due to a direct effect on immune cells. As fenfluramine activates the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, we examined the ability of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone to block fenfluramine-induced immunosuppression. However, mifepristone (10 mg/kg) failed to attenuate the suppressive effect of fenfluramine on interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, indicating that glucocorticoids do not mediate fenfluramine-induced immunosuppression. We also assessed the effect of fenfluramine on production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, as interleukin-10 can suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Fenfluramine (10 mg/kg) increased interleukin-10 production following an in vivo lipopolysaccharide challenge. However, the ability of fenfluramine to suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha production cannot be accounted for by increased interleukin-10 production, as pretreatment with the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist nadolol completely blocked the increase in interleukin-10 without altering the suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced by fenfluramine. Taken together, these data demonstrate that fenfluramine promotes an immunosuppressive cytokine phenotype in vivo. The suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines is not due to a direct effect the drug on immune cells, and also occurs independently of glucocorticoid receptor activation. In addition, whilst fenfluramine increases production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, this cannot account for the suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced by fenfluramine.
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PMID:Fenfluramine-induced immunosuppression: an in vivo analysis. 1244 84

Splenocytes from socially stressed male mice display functional glucocorticoid (GC) resistance, viz., the antiproliferative effects of GC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenocytes is absent. In this study, we investigated changes in the structure and function of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in socially stressed animals. Changes of GR at both DNA and RNA levels were excluded. Reduced GR function was restricted to macrophages (CD11b(+)) in association with impaired nuclear translocation of GR after GC stimulation. Consequently, GC failed to block the activation of NF-kappa B in these cells. Thus, impaired nuclear translocation of GR and the lack of transcriptional suppression of NF-kappa B by GC were identified as the molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed GC resistance in spleens of socially stressed mice.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance in splenocytes of socially stressed male mice. 1266 47

Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is a member of the mitochondrial transporter superfamily that is expressed primarily in skeletal muscle. UCP3 is upregulated in various conditions characterized by skeletal muscle atrophy, including hyperthyroidism, fasting, denervation, diabetes, cancer, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs). The influence of sepsis, another condition characterized by muscle cachexia, on UCP3 expression and activity is not known. We examined UCP3 gene and protein expression in skeletal muscles from rats after cecal ligation and puncture and from sham-operated control rats. Sepsis resulted in a two- to threefold increase in both mRNA and protein levels of UCP3 in skeletal muscle. Treatment of rats with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-38486 prevented the sepsis-induced increase in gene and protein expression of UCP3. The UCP3 mRNA and protein levels were increased 2.4- to 3.6-fold when incubated muscles from normal rats were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) and/or free fatty acids (FFA) ex vivo. In addition, UCP3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in normal rat muscles in vivo with treatment of either DEX or FFA. The results suggest that sepsis upregulates the gene and protein expression of UCP3 in skeletal muscle, which may at least in part be mediated by GCs and FFA.
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PMID:Expression of uncoupling protein 3 is upregulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis. 1272 Nov 57

L-carnitine is an essential nutrient with a major role in cellular energy production. There is evidence that, at high doses, L-carnitine might mimic some of the biological activities of glucocorticoids, especially immunomodulation. To explore the molecular basis of this effect, we tested the influence of L-carnitine on glucocorticoid receptor-alpha (GRalpha) functions. Millimolar concentrations of L-carnitine, which were not cytotoxic in vitro, significantly reduced the whole cell binding of [3H]dexamethasone to GRalpha by decreasing the affinity of this receptor for its steroid ligand. At the same concentrations, L-carnitine was able to trigger nuclear translocation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused human GRalpha and transactivate the glucocorticoid-responsive mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and TAT3 promoters in a dose-dependent fashion. This effect was solely dependent on the presence of glucocorticoid-responsive elements on the promoter and on the expression of functional GRalpha by the cell. Finally, similarly to glucocorticoids, L-carnitine suppressed tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-12 release by human primary monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide ex vivo. Both GRalpha transactivation and cytokine suppression by L-carnitine were abrogated by the GRalpha-antagonist RU 486. Taken together, our results suggest that pharmacological doses of L-carnitine can activate GRalpha and, through this mechanism, regulate glucocorticoid-responsive genes, potentially sharing some of the biological and therapeutic properties of glucocorticoids.
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PMID:L-carnitine: A nutritional modulator of glucocorticoid receptor functions. 1282 92


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