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Phosphorylated troglitazone activates PPARgamma and inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and
Peter J Little1, Mandy L Ballinger, Soniya Survase
1Cell Biology of Diabetes Laboratory, Baker Heart Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. peter.little@baker.edu.au
Abstract:
Phosphorylation of alpha-tocopherol produces an entity with enhanced antiatherogenic properties. Troglitazone, an alpha-tocopherol derivative of a 2,4-thiazolidinedione nucleus, is an antidiabetic agent that shows fatal idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, a property not shared by later agents. We investigated the effects of phosphorylation of troglitazone (to yield "phosphoglitazone") on the biochemical pharmacologic properties of troglitazone. We investigated its ability to act as a PPARgamma agonist and to inhibit 2 atherogenic properties of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC)-proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis. PPARgamma activity was assessed in a transfection assay. Proliferation was assessed by [H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counting and proteoglycan synthesis by [S]-sulfate incorporation using human vSMCs stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF; 50 ng/mL) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta (2 ng/mL). Phosphoglitazone was a full agonist for PPARgamma with a potency and efficacy similar to troglitazone. Phosphoglitazone also inhibited cell proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis with potency similar to troglitazone. We conclude that phosphorylation retains the pharmacologic activity of troglitazone while decreasing its lipophilicity and therefore potentially its toxicity. A phosphorylated derivative of a 2,4-thiazolidinedione warrants further investigation as a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
Insights
Phosphorylation of troglitazone to phosphoglitazone retains its PPARgamma agonist and antiatherogenic properties. This modification may reduce toxicity, offering a potential new therapy for insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Troglitazone, an alpha-tocopherol derivative, is an antidiabetic agent with known hepatotoxicity.
- Phosphorylation of alpha-tocopherol can enhance antiatherogenic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of phosphorylating troglitazone on its pharmacological properties.
- To assess phosphoglitazone's potential as a PPARgamma agonist and its ability to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis.
Main Methods:
- PPARgamma activity was measured using a transfection assay.
- vSMC proliferation was assessed via [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counting.
- vSMC proteoglycan synthesis was evaluated using [35S]-sulfate incorporation.
Main Results:
- Phosphoglitazone demonstrated full PPARgamma agonist activity, comparable to troglitazone.
- Phosphoglitazone effectively inhibited vSMC proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis, similar to troglitazone.
- Phosphorylation decreased troglitazone's lipophilicity.
Conclusions:
- Phosphorylation preserves the pharmacological activity of troglitazone.
- Phosphoglitazone shows potential for reduced toxicity compared to troglitazone.
- Phosphorylated 2,4-thiazolidinedione derivatives warrant further investigation for treating insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
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