Effect of sarsasapogenin and its derivatives on the stimulus coupled responses of human neutrophils.
METHODS
The effects of three sapogenins (sarsasapogenin, tigogenin and hecogenin) on the stimulus-induced superoxide generation and protein tyrosyl phosphorylation in human neutrophils were investigated.


RESULTS
When the cells were preincubated with sapogenin, three sapogenins dose-dependently suppressed the superoxide generations induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), respectively. In both cases, their effects were in the order: sarsasapogenin>tigogenin>hecogenin. While sarsasapogenin suppressed the superoxide generation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) as well, the superoxide generation was scarcely suppressed by tigogenin and significantly enhanced by hecogenin. In parallel to their effects on the superoxide generation, the three sapogenins dose-dependently suppressed the fMLP-induced and PMA-induced tyrosyl phosphorylations of 45 kDa protein in neutrophils, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the sapogenins tested, sarsasapogenin may have the most clinical use as it suppresses superoxide generation.
Ma
D
D
Department of Chemistry, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku Kochi 783-8505, Japan.
Zhang
J
J
Sugahara
K
K
Sagara
Y
Y
Kodama
H
H
D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002469:Cell Separation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D013150:Spirostans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013150:Spirostans; D013481:Superoxides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; C046297:sarsasapogenin; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate