Lipoxins and aspirin-triggered 15- epi -lipoxins (ATL) are counter-regulatory eicosanoids with potent antiinflammatory actions. Oral efficacy and mechanism of action of ZK-192, a β-oxidation-resistant 3-oxa-ATL analog, were examined in trinitrobenzenesulphonate (TNBS)-induced colitis. When dosed orally once daily, 300 and 1,000 μg/kg ZK-192 markedly attenuated TNBS colitis in rodents both in preventive and therapeutic regimens. ZK-192 attenuated weight loss, macroscopic and histologic colon injury, mucosal neutrophil infiltration, and colon wall thickening. ZK-192 was as effective as 3–10 mg/kg oral prednisolone. ZK-192 decreased mucosal mRNA levels for several inflammatory mediators: inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase 2, and macrophage inflammatory protein 2. ZK-192 also decreased mucosal mRNA and protein levels of T helper 1 effector cytokines: tumor necrosis factor α, IL-2, and IFN-γ. Systemic levels of these cytokines were also dramatically attenuated. CD3/CD28-mediated costimulation of T helper 1 effector cytokine release in lamina propria mononuclear cells was markedly inhibited by ZK-192 ex vivo and in vitro . ZK-192 also prevented colitis in lymphocyte-deficient severe combined immunodeficient mice, with ≈75% inhibition of mucosal tumor necrosis factor α and IL-2 levels. The results are further evidence that innate immune cells function as triggers for hapten-induced colitis. The combined antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of ZK-192 in TNBS colitis suggest that ATL analogs may be an attractive oral treatment approach for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Objective-Clinical studies have demonstrated that hyperglycaemia represents a major risk factor in the development of the endothelial impairment in diabetes, which is the first step in vascular dysfunction. Using non-obese diabetic mice, we have evaluated the role of the adrenergic system and eNOS on progression of the disease Methods and Results-When glycosuria is high (20 to 500 mg/dL), there is a selective reduction in the response to ␣ 1 and ␤ 2 agonists but not to dopamine or serotonin. When glycosuria is severe (500 to 1000 mg/dL), there is a complete ablation of the contracture response to the ␣ 1 receptor agonist stimulation and a marked reduced response to ␤ 2 agonist stimulation. This effect is coupled with a reduced expression of ␣ 1 and ␤ 2 receptors, which is caused by an inhibition at transcriptional level as demonstrated by RT-PCR. In the severe glycosuria (500 to 1000 mg/dL), although eNOS expression is unchanged, caveolin-1 expression is significantly enhanced, indicating that high glucose plasma levels cause an upregulation of the eNOS endogenous inhibitory tone. These latter results correlate with functional data showing that in severe glycosuria, there is a significant reduction in acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation. Conclusions-Our

Objective-Proteinase-activated receptor-2 is widely expressed in vascular tissue and in highly vascularized organs in humans and other species. Its activation mainly causes endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in vitro and hypotension in vivo. Here, using nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice at different disease stages, we have evaluated the role of PAR 2 in the arterial vascular response during diabetes progression. Methods and Results-High (NOD-II; 20 to 500 mg/dL) or severe glycosuria (NOD-III; 500 to 1000 mg/dL) provokes a progressive reduction in the response to acetylcholine paralleled by an increase in the vasodilatory response to PAR 2 stimulation. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies showed that this effect is tied to an increased expression of PAR 2 coupled to cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Pharmacological dissection performed with specific inhibitors confirmed the functional involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 in PAR 2 vasodilatory effect. This vasodilatory response was confirmed to be dependent on expression of PAR 2 in the smooth muscle component by immunohistochemistry studies performed on aorta isolated by both NOD-III and transgenic PAR 2 mice. Conclusions-Our

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