Metofenazate (Methophenazine)

Metofenazate as a more selective calmodulin inhibitor than trifluoperazine

The interaction of several phenothiazines, benzodiazepines, butyrophenones, polycyclic neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants with calmodulin and troponin C was investigated using the fluorescent dye 3,3'-dipropylthiocarbocyanine iodide. In the presence of Ca2+, trifluoperazine (2-trifluoromethyl-10-[3-(1-methylpiperazinyl-4)propyl]-phenothiaz ine dihydrochloride, TFP), which is commonly used as a selective calmodulin inhibitor, half maximally increased the fluorescence of the complex formed of the fluorescent dye with calmodulin at a concentration of 4 mumol/l, and with troponin C at 24 mumol/l. TFP completely inhibited the calmodulin dependent stimulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase with a Ki of 4 mumol/l and decreased the maximum Ca2+ dependent troponin C mediated activation of actomyosin ATPase by 35% at a concentration of 100 mumol/l. Metofenazate (3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate-2-chlor-10-(3-[(beta-oxyethyl) piperazinyl-4]-propyl)phenothiazine diethanesulfonate, methophenazine, MP) produced half maximal fluorescence enhancement of the calmodulin dye complex at a concentration of 6 mumol/l and did not influence the fluorescence of the troponin C dye complex at concentrations of up to 1000 mumol/l. MP also completely inhibited the calmodulin dependent stimulation of phosphodiesterase with a Ki of 7 mumol/l but it had not effect on maximum Ca2+ stimulation of actomyosin ATPase. MP increased the Ca2+ sensitivity of skinned cardiac muscle with an about 10fold lower potency than TFP. In view of these results, we propose MP as a useful tool for distinction between processes mediated by either calmodulin or troponin C.

Human basophil histamine release is differently affected by inhibitors of calmodulin, diacylglycerol kinase and peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase in a secretagogue specific manner

To assess the role of calmodulin in human basophil histamine release, we triggered leukocytes with different secretagogues in the presence of putative inhibitors of calmodulin. Calcium ionophore-induced histamine release was reduced or blocked by calmidazolium, CGS 9343B, felodipine, metofenazate, and Ro 22-4839. H 186/86, a felodipine-related dihydropyridine derivative, blocked A23187-but not ionomycin-triggered histamine release, suggesting a difference in the mode of action of these ionophores. In contrast, leukocyte histamine release triggered by the purported protein kinase C (PKC) activator, 1,2-isopropylidene-3-decanoyl-sn-glycerol (IpOCOC9), was enhanced by calmidazolium, CGS 9349B and metofenazate but not affected by felodipine or Ro 22-4839, whereas the response triggered by 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was reduced by metofenazate and Ro 22-4839 but not consistently affected by calmidazolium, CGS 9343B or felodipine. The PMA-induced histamine release was enhanced by H 186/86. Anti-IgE- and FMLP-induced responses were either unaffected or slightly enhanced by the examined calmodulin antagonists. In comparison with the calmodulin antagonists, R 59022, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase, failed to reduce calcium ionophore-triggered histamine release, whereas FK506, an inhibitor of peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPI), reduced both anti-IgE- and ionophore-triggered responses. These results indicate that calmodulin constitutes an obligate link in signal transduction pathways leading to human leukocyte histamine release if the trigger is a calcium ionophore but not when responses are induced by anti-IgE, FMLP or PMA; a calmodulin-dependent component may rather balance responses induced by IpOCOC9.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modulation of neutrophil superoxide generation by inhibitors of protein kinase C, calmodulin, diacylglycerol and myosin light chain kinases, and peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase

To assess the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the respiratory burst of adherent human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), reduction of ferricytochrome C by cells triggered with a phorbol ester (PMA), ionophore A23187, serum-treated zymosan (STZ) or three lipid derivatives, 3-decanoyl-sn-glycerol (G-3-OCOC9), (R,R)-1,4-diethyl-2-O-decyl-L-tartrate (Tt-2-OC10) and 3-decyloxy-5-hydroxymethylphenol (DHP) was examined in a microtiter plate procedure in the presence of inhibitors of PKC and, for comparison, inhibitors of calmodulin, diacylglycerol and myosin light chain kinases and the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity of fujiphilin. 1) Of the protein kinase inhibitors examined, Ro 31-7549 and staurosporine reduced responses to all stimuli except possibly STZ; in contrast, K252a and the myosin light chain kinase inhibitors ML-7 and ML-9 blocked responses to A23187 and STZ better than those triggered by PMA. H-7 reduced responses to A23187, DHP and G-3-OCOC9, and calphostin, palmitoyl carnitine, sphingosine and the multifunctional drugs TMB-8 and W-7 reduced A23187; they also, when examined, reduced decane derivative-induced O2- production more effectively than PMA- and STZ-triggered responses. Polymyxin B, 4 alpha-PMA and retinal displayed no inhibitory capacity. 2) Of the selective calmodulin antagonists, CGS 9343B, Ro 22-4839 and calmidazolium did not inhibit the oxidative response irrespective of the stimulus used, whereas metofenazate reduced those evoked by A23187, DHP, G-3-OCOC9 and STZ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Effect of calmodulin inhibitors on the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle]

The calmodulin inhibitor trifluoroperazine (5 microM) diminished the velocity of contraction and relaxation of the guinea-pig papillary muscle by 31 and 53%, respectively. Methophenazine showed approximately the same affinity to both calmodulin and trifluoroperazine and nearly 40-fold less affinity to troponin. Methophenazine (5 microM) did not change the contraction velocity and diminished the relaxation velocity ty 21%. It is suggested that calmodulin participates mainly in the control of myocardial relaxation.

[Effect of drugs on granulocyte motility]

The in-vitro influence of drugs on the chemokinesis and chemotaxis of neutrophils was investigated in order to prevent additional drug-induced motility impairment of cells in cases of already existing host defense disorders and for an eventual specific treatment of motility defects. Granulocyte motility is unimpaired by penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, streptomycin, nystatin, and cyclophosphamide. The chemokinesis and chemotaxis of neutrophils are inhibited by erythromycin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, hydrocortisone, g-strophanthin, digoxin, and digitoxin and in higher concentrations also by sulfonamides, gentamycin, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and phenylbutazone. Chemotaxis is selectively or rather more inhibited than chemokinesis by amphotericin B, griseofulvin, vinblastine++, trifluoperazine, and promethazine. Granulocyte motility is, however, stimulated by ascorbic acid, potassium thiocyanate, levamisole, lithium, and metofenazate.