tcY-NH2

Blockade of proteinase-activated receptor 4 inhibits neutrophil recruitment in experimental inflammation in mice.[Pubmed:25118784]

Inflamm Res. 2014 Nov;63(11):935-41.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The activation of proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) has been implicated in the development of important hallmarks of inflammation, including in vivo leukocyte recruitment; however, its role in the regulation of leukocyte migration in response to inflammatory stimuli has not been elucidated until now. Here, we examined the effects of the PAR4 antagonist YPGKF-NH 2 (tcY-NH2) on neutrophil recruitment in experimentally induced inflammation. METHODS: BALB/c mice were intrapleurally injected with tcY-NH2 (40 ng/kg) prior to intrapleural injection of carrageenan (Cg) or neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL8; the number of infiltrating neutrophils was evaluated after 4 h, and KC production was assessed at different times after Cg injection. Neutrophil adhesion and rolling cells were studied using a brain circulation preparation 4 h after the Cg or CXCL8 challenge in tcY-NH2-treated mice. RESULTS: PAR4 blockade inhibited CXCL8- and Cg-induced neutrophil migration into the pleural cavity of BALB/c mice and reduced neutrophil rolling and adherence. Surprisingly, PAR4 blockade increased the level of KC in response to carrageenan. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that PAR4 blockade impairs neutrophil migration in vivo, suggesting that PAR4 plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation, at least in part because of its ability to inhibit the actions of the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL8.

In vitro inhibition of protease-activated receptors 1, 2 and 4 demonstrates that these receptors are not involved in an Acanthamoeba castellanii keratitis isolate-mediated disruption of the human brain microvascular endothelial cells.[Pubmed:24703976]

Exp Parasitol. 2014 Nov;145 Suppl:S78-83.

Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis is a rare but serious human disease leading almost always to death. The pathophysiology of amoebic encephalitis is better understood, while events leading to the constitution of brain infection are largely unknown. Traversal of the blood-brain barrier is a key step in amoebae invasion of the central nervous system and facilitated by amoebic extracellular proteases. By using specific inhibitors of protease-activated receptors 1, 2 and 4, here we studied the role of these host receptors in Acanthamoeba castellanii-mediated damage to human brain microvasculature endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the blood-brain barrier. The primary HBMEC were incubated with A. castellanii-conditioned medium in the presence or absence of FR-171113 (selective inhibitor of protease-activated receptor 1), FSLLRY-NH2 (inhibitor of protease-activated receptor 2), and tcY-NH2 (inhibitor of protease-activated receptor 4). The HBMEC monolayer disruptions were assessed by microscopy using Eosin staining, while host cell cytotoxicity was determined by measuring the release of cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase. Zymographic assays were performed to determine the effects of inhibitors of protease-activated receptors on the extracellular proteolytic activities of A. castellanii. A. castellanii-conditioned medium produced severe HBMEC monolayer disruptions within 60 min. The selective inhibitors of protease-activated receptors tested did not affect HBMEC monolayer disruptions. On the contrary, pre-treatment of A. castellanii-conditioned medium with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, a serine protease inhibitor, or heating for 10 min at 95 degrees C abolished HBMEC monolayer disruptions. Additionally, inhibitors of protease-activated receptors tested, failed to block A. castellanii-mediated HBMEC cytotoxicity and did not affect extracellular proteolytic activities of A. castellanii. Protease-activated receptors 1, 2 and 4 do not appear to play a role in A. castellanii-mediated dysfunction of HBMEC, which constitute the blood-brain barrier. The role of additional protease-activated receptors in amoebic invasion of the central nervous system is discussed further.

Brazilin isolated from Caesalpinia sappan L. acts as a novel collagen receptor agonist in human platelets.[Pubmed:23350663]

J Biomed Sci. 2013 Jan 25;20:4.

BACKGROUND: Brazilin, isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L., has been shown to possess multiple pharmacological properties. METHODS: In this study, platelet aggregation, flow cytometry, immunoblotting analysis, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry were used to investigate the effects of brazilin on platelet activation ex vivo. Moreover, fluorescein sodium-induced platelet thrombi of mesenteric microvessels was also used in in vivo study. RESULTS: We demonstrated that relatively low concentrations of brazilin (1 to 10 muM) potentiated platelet aggregation induced by collagen (0.1 mug/ml) in washed human platelets. Higher concentrations of brazilin (20 to 50 muM) directly triggered platelet aggregation. Brazilin-mediated platelet aggregation was slightly inhibited by ATP (an antagonist of ADP). It was not inhibited by yohimbine (an antagonist of epinephrine), by SCH79797 (an antagonist of thrombin protease-activated receptor [PAR] 1), or by tcY-NH2 (an antagonist of PAR 4). Brazilin did not significantly affect FITC-triflavin binding to the integrin alphaIIbbeta(3) in platelet suspensions. Pretreatment of the platelets with caffeic acid phenethyl ester (an antagonist of collagen receptors) or JAQ1 and Sam.G4 monoclonal antibodies raised against collagen receptor glycoprotein VI and integrin alpha2beta(1), respectively, abolished platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen or brazilin. The immunoblotting analysis showed that brazilin stimulated the phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)gamma2 and Lyn, which were significantly attenuated in the presence of JAQ1 and Sam.G4. In addition, brazilin did not significantly trigger hydroxyl radical formation in ESR analysis. An in vivo mouse study showed that brazilin treatment (2 and 4 mg/kg) significantly shortened the occlusion time for platelet plug formation in mesenteric venules. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that brazilin acts a novel collagen receptor agonist. Brazilin is a plant-based natural product, may offer therapeutic potential as intended anti-thrombotic agents for targeting of collagen receptors or to be used a useful tool for the study of detailed mechanisms in collagen receptors-mediated platelet activation.

Differential involvement of thrombin receptors in Ca2+ release from two different intracellular stores in human platelets.[Pubmed:16939417]

Biochem J. 2007 Jan 1;401(1):167-74.

Physiological agonists increase cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration to regulate a number of cellular processes. The platelet thrombin receptors, PAR (protease-activated receptor) 1 PAR-4 and GPIb-IX-V (glycoprotein Ib-IX-V) have been described as potential contributors of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Platelets present two separate Ca2+ stores, the DTS (dense tubular system) and acidic organelles, differentiated by the distinct sensitivity of their respective SERCAs (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic-reticulum Ca2+-ATPases) to TG (thapsigargin) and TBHQ [2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone]. However, the involvement of the thrombin receptors in Ca2+ release from each Ca2+ store remains unknown. Depletion of the DTS using ADP, which releases Ca2+ solely from the DTS, in combination with 10 nM TG, to selectively inhibit SERCA2 located on the DTS reduced Ca2+ release evoked by the PAR-1 agonist, SFLLRN, and the PAR-4 agonist, AYPGKF, by 80 and 50% respectively. Desensitization of PAR-1 and PAR-4 or pre-treatment with the PAR-1 and PAR-4 antagonists SCH 79797 and tcY-NH2 reduced Ca2+ mobilization induced by thrombin, and depletion of the DTS after desensitization or blockade of PAR-1 and PAR-4 had no significant effect on Ca2+ release stimulated by thrombin through the GPIb-IX-V receptor. Converse experiments showed that depletion of the acidic stores using TBHQ reduced Ca2+ release evoked by SFLLRN or AYPGKF, by 20 and 50% respectively, and abolished thrombin-stimulated Ca2+ release through the GPIb-IX-V receptor when PAR-1 and PAR-4 had been desensitized or blocked. Our results indicate that thrombin-induced activation of PAR-1 and PAR-4 evokes Ca2+ release from both Ca2+ stores, while activation of GPIb-IX-V by thrombin releases Ca2+ solely from the acidic compartments in human platelets.

Proteinase-activated receptor 4 (PAR4): activation and inhibition of rat platelet aggregation by PAR4-derived peptides.[Pubmed:11405248]

Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001 May;79(5):439-42.

We studied the actions of receptor-activating peptide analogues (PAR4APs), modeled on the proteolytically-revealed tethered ligand sequence of murine proteinase-activated receptor-4 (PAR4), in a rat platelet aggregation assay. The PAR4APs GYPGKF-NH2 (GY-NH2) and AYPGKF-NH2 (AY-NH2) were able to cause aggregation with EC50 values of about 40 microM and 15 microM, respectively. The reverse human PAR4 sequence (VQGPYG-NH2, YG-NH2) and the PAR1AP SFLLR-NH2, did not cause aggregation. In contrast, trans-cinnamoyl-YPGKF-NH2 (tcY-NH2) did not cause aggregation but blocked aggregation caused by GY-NH2, AY-NH2, and thrombin without affecting ADP-mediated aggregation. We conclude that in contrast to the PAR1AP, the PAR4APs GY-NH2 and AY-NH2 activate rat platelets via a PAR4-related receptor and that peptide analogues modeled on the PAR4 tethered activating sequence can serve as useful agonist and antagonist probes for assessing the consequence of activating PAR4 either by PAR4APs or thrombin in rat tissue preparations.

Proteinase-activated receptor-4: evaluation of tethered ligand-derived peptides as probes for receptor function and as inflammatory agonists in vivo.[Pubmed:15451771]

Br J Pharmacol. 2004 Oct;143(4):443-54.

1. We evaluated the ability of a number of peptides based on the tethered ligand sequences of human, rat and murine proteinase-activated receptor-4 (PAR(4)), to serve as receptor-activating probes or antagonists for bioassays carried out in vitro and for in vivo models of inflammation. 2. In a rat PAR(4)-dependent platelet aggregation assay, the relative potencies of the active sequences (AYPGKF-NH(2)>GYPGKF-NH(2)>GYPGFK-NH(2)>GFPGKP-NH(2)) were consistent with an activation of PAR(4). 3. In the aggregation assay, the reverse or partial reverse-sequence peptides (VQGPYG-NH(2), YAPGKF-NH(2) and FKGPYA-NH(2)) were inactive, while trans-cinnamoyl (Tc)-YPGKF-NH(2), Tc-APGKF-NH(2) and N-palmitoyl-SGRRYGHALR-NH(2) (pepducin P4pal-10) were antagonists. 4. However, in an endothelium-dependent NO-mediated rat aorta (RA) relaxation assay and in a gastric longitudinal muscle (LM) contraction assay, these antagonist peptides were agonists as were most other peptides, with distinct orders of potencies that differed for both the RA and LM assays and from the platelet assay. 5. We conclude that PAR(4)-derived tethered ligand peptide agonists can act at receptors other than PAR(4) and that a judicious choice of ligands is required to probe for PAR(4) function in bioassay systems and in particular for in vivo models. 6. By selecting from these peptides the ones most reliably reflecting PAR(4) activation (AYPGKF-NH(2) as a standard agonist; YAPGKF-NH(2) as a PAR(4)-inactive standard), we were able to establish an inflammatory role for the PAR(4)-activating peptides acting via a non-neurogenic mechanism in a rat paw oedema model.

Thrombin-induced platelet endostatin release is blocked by a proteinase activated receptor-4 (PAR4) antagonist.[Pubmed:11606309]

Br J Pharmacol. 2001 Oct;134(4):701-4.

Endostatin is a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis that was recently shown to be stored in platelets and released in response to thrombin, but not ADP. In the present study, we have tested the hypothesis that thrombin-induced endostatin release from rat platelets is mediated via proteinase-activated receptor-4 (PAR4). Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting confirmed that endostatin is contained within rat platelets. Aggregation and release of endostatin could be elicited by thrombin (0.5 - 1.0 U ml(-1)) or by specific PAR4 agonist (AYPGKF-NH(2); AY-NH(2); 15 - 50 microM). Significant release of endostatin could be induced by a dose of thrombin below that necessary for induction of aggregation. An adenosine diphosphate (ADP) scavenger, apyrase, inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, but not the release of endostatin. In contrast, a selective PAR4 antagonist (trans-cinnamoyl-YPGKF-NH(2); tcY-NH(2)) prevented endostatin release and aggregation induced by thrombin or by AY-NH(2). We conclude that thrombin-induced endostatin release from rat platelets is PAR4-mediated via an ADP-independent mechanism that can occur independently of platelet aggregation.