title: Opposite effects of flurbiprofen and the nitroxybutyl ester of flurbiprofen on apoptosis in cultured guinea-pig gastric mucous cells.
abstract: The nitric oxide (NO)-donating nitroxybutyl ester of flurbiprofen (NO-flurbiprofen), shows reduced gastro-intestinal toxicity relative to flurbiprofen. NO may exert either pro- or anti-apoptotic effects, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may induce apoptosis. The aim of the present work was therefore to compare the effects of flurbiprofen and NO-flurbiprofen on apoptosis in guinea-pig gastric mucous cells. Apoptotic activity was assessed by assay of caspase activity and from the fragmentation and condensation of nuclei. Incubation with flurbiprofen for 24 h produced a concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis in cells attached to the culture plate (caspase 3-like activity increased by 257% at 500 microM), while NO-flurbiprofen inhibited basal apoptosis (caspase 3-like activity decreased by 71% at 500 microM). Caspase activity and nuclear fragmentation were substantially increased in cells that had spontaneously detached from the culture plate. NO-flurbiprofen inhibited caspase activity (55% at 500 microM) but not nuclear fragmentation in these detached cells. NO flurbiprofen inhibited the activation of apoptosis by 25 microM C(6)-ceramide in cells attached to the culture plate. Inhibition of caspase activity by NO-flurbiprofen was detectable after 6 h of incubation with intact cells, but by contrast with the NO-donor S-nitrosyl-N-acetyl-penicillamine, was not demonstrable with cell homogenates. Activation of caspase 3-like activity by flurbiprofen was slow (>6 h incubation needed) and was inhibited by cycloheximide. The presence of a nitroxybutyl ester moiety on flurbiprofen prevents the pro-apoptotic activity of the parent compound and may contribute to the reduced gastro-intestinal toxicity of NO-flurbiprofen.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johal
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hanson
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002457:Cell Extracts; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002518:Ceramides / Q000494:pharmacology; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005480:Flurbiprofen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002457:Cell Extracts; D002518:Ceramides; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; C110881:S-nitro-N-acetylpenicillamine; C101954:N-caproylsphingosine; C095631:nitroflurbiprofen; D005480:Flurbiprofen; D003513:Cycloheximide; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D010396:Penicillamine; D004229:Dithiothreitol