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Biomedical subjects

D J Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to D J Nelson.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Metabolic activation of 9([2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl)guanine in human lymphoblastoid cell lines infected with Epstein-Barr virus.

9-([2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl)guanine (BW B759U) is more potent and has a more prolonged inhibitory effect against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in vitro than does acyclovir (ACV). To assess the mechanism of this difference, we first compared the extent of phosphorylation of the two drugs in superinfected Raji cells. BW B759U is phosphorylated to levels 100-fold higher than is ACV. In addition, lower levels of phosphorylation of BW B759U and ACV were observed in uninfected Raji cells. Studies on the kinetics of formation of BW B759U triphosphate in superinfected Raji cells indicated that drug-phosphorylating activity was detected as early as 3 h after superinfection; this activity was steadily maintained for the first 7 h, followed by a burst of activity between 7 and 10 h and a doubling of phosphorylation between 10 and 25 h. During the superinfection cycle, the pool sizes of deoxyribonucleoside and ribonucleoside triphosphates were increased and reached their maxima at 10 h after infection. The maximal amount of triphosphorylated drug in a virus producer cell, P3HR-1 (LS), was obtained at 21 h after drug treatment. During long-term drug treatment, approximately 44 and 77% reduction in EBV genome copies per cell was observed on days 3 and 7, respectively. In a separate experiment, after treatment of P3HR-1 (LS) cells with BW B759U for 36 h, 4.2 pmol of BW B759U triphosphate per 10(6) cells was achieved. After the cells were released into drug-free medium, drug triphosphate was rapidly decreased to 11% of the original level in 1 day. Thereafter, the decrease was slow but steady, down to 0.22 pmol/10(6) P3HR-1 cells by 5 days. We calculated that 0.22 pmol of BW B759U triphosphate per 10(6) cells represents a cellular concentration of 0.22 microM, which is theoretically enough to inhibit EBV replication. This is based upon a comparison with the 50% effective dose of BW B759U (0.05 microM) for inhibition of genome replication and a Ki of 0.08 microM for BW B759U triphosphate inhibition of EBV DNA polymerase.

Acyclovir↗

Inosine analogs. Their metabolism in mouse L cells and in Leishmania donovani.

The growth of Leishmania donovani promastigotes and mouse L cells is differentially inhibited by several inosine analogs with modifications in the imidazole ring. The protozoal and mammalian cells also demonstrate differential metabolism of these analogs. 7-Deazainosine, 7-thia-7,9-dideazainosine, and formycin B were converted to their respective ATP analogs by both cell types. 8-Azainosine was converted to a GTP analog by mouse L cells; L. donovani did not metabolize this nucleoside. 9-Deazainosine and allopurinol riboside were metabolized only to their respective IMP analogs by L cells. L. donovani metabolized 9-deazainosine and allopurinol riboside to their ATP analogs and also metabolized 9-deazainosine to its GTP analog. All nucleosides studied were resistant to cleavage by either organism. From metabolism studies in the presence of a specific enzyme inhibitor, it was deduced that allopurinol riboside, formycin B, and 9-deazainosine were phosphorylated by at least two different routes in the mouse L cells. The metabolism of formycin B was inhibited 65% by the adenosine kinase inhibitor, 5-iodotubercidin, whereas the metabolism of allopurinol riboside (14% inhibition) and 9-deazainosine (0% inhibition) was only slightly affected by this inhibitor. The metabolism of allopurinol riboside and 9-deazainosine by L. donovani was not affected by 5-iodotubercidin. In contrast to the results of L cells, the metabolism of formycin B by L. donovani was also not affected by 5-iodotubercidin. The abilities of mouse L cells and L. donovani to metabolize these inosine analogs to the corresponding nucleotide analogs of ATP or GTP may be considered to be an activating step and correlates well with the respective cytotoxic effects of these compounds.

Adenosine Kinase↗

Calmodulin: calcium, potassium, and magnesium ion multiple equilibria and kinetics for interconversion, including the effect of repeated stimulation.

Using computer simulations, with realistic values for the intrinsic thermodynamic binding constants and kinetic on and off rate constants at the four metal-binding sites, the calmodulin molecule is shown to have been optimally adjusted by evolution for biological function. Despite a very large number of potential molecular states, depending upon occupation by potassium, calcium, or magnesium ions, the system restricts itself to a small number of physiologically-significant equilibrium species. It appears to possess built-in triggers for biological processes, with rapid (approximately 20 ms time-scale), step-function shaped, changes of the populations of the CMKK, CMMK, CKKK, CMMM (and CCKK) states. The time-response of calmodulin to periodic changes in ionic levels (2 and 5 s-1) makes it quite adequate for repeated stimulations. In short, calmodulin appears as a very selective information transmitter at the molecular level.

Binding Sites↗

Anti-leishmanial effect of allopurinol ribonucleoside and the related compounds, allopurinol, thiopurinol, thiopurinol ribonucleoside, and of formycin B, sinefungin and the lepidine WR6026.

Allopurinol and allopurinol ribonucleoside tested in vitro and in vivo for activity against Leishmania donovani. Activity in vitro was low against the amastigote form of this parasite with ED50 values of the order of 54 and 96 microM and 86 and 213 microM respectively for the two compounds. In vivo inhibition of up to 47% was achieved with allopurinol ribonucleoside given in the drinking water. However, low blood levels were found in the mouse relative to those in man. Low in vivo activity was also seen with allopurinol ribonucleoside against L. major and other species of Leishmania causing cutaneous lesions. The metabolism of allopurinol ribonucleoside in aldehyde oxidase deficient mice (inbred strains DBA/1, DBA/2) resembled that of man, but the antileishmanial activity remained low. Other compounds, formycin B, sinefungin and the lepidine WR6026 were highly active against mice infected with L. donovani or L. major.

Adenosine↗

Purine metabolism in the intact sporozoites and merozoites of Eimeria tenella.

Intact Eimeria tenella sporozoites and merozoites did not incorporate radiolabeled formate or glycine into their purine nucleotides suggesting a lack of de novo purine synthesis. However, [U-14C]glucose was incorporated into the cellular purine and pyrimidine nucleotide pools of both forms probably via conversion to radiolabeled ribose-1-phosphate and/or 5'-phosphoribosyl-1-alpha-pyrophosphate and the resulting action of various purine and pyrimidine salvage enzymes. Both forms of the parasite salvaged radiolabeled purine bases and nucleosides in a similar fashion. These purines were incorporated into ribonucleotides and into RNA and DNA. Adenine and inosine were transformed to hypoxanthine. Adenosine was converted to both inosine and hypoxanthine. Hypoxanthine and xanthine were not oxidized to uric acid but were metabolized to nucleotides. Guanosine was cleaved to guanine; guanine was deaminated to xanthine. The results demonstrate the presence of several purine salvage pathways. Purine phosphoribosylating and nucleoside phosphorylating activities as well as purine nucleoside cleaving and adenosine, adenine and guanine deaminating activities were evident. The metabolic evidence suggests the enzymes required to convert the newly formed nucleoside monophosphates to ATP and GTP were present also.

Animals↗

Potentiation of antiherpetic activity of acyclovir by ribonucleotide reductase inhibition.

Compound A723U, a 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone, produced apparent inactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) ribonucleotide reductase. Inactivation occurred after A723U formed a reversible complex with the enzyme and only while the enzyme was catalyzing the formation of deoxynucleotides. A723U inhibited HSV-1 replication at concentrations that were not toxic to the confluent host cells. Most importantly, A723U and acyclovir (ACV) were found to exhibit mutual potentiation of their antiviral activities. Subinhibitory concentrations of either compound greatly reduced the ED50 (median effective dose) of the other. Studies of the deoxynucleotide pool sizes and the levels of ACV triphosphate (ACV-P3) revealed that A723U not only significantly reduced the pool of dGTP but also increased the level of ACV-P3 in infected cells. The net result was an 80-fold increase in the ratio of ACV-P3 to dGTP. This should greatly facilitate the initial binding of ACV-P3 to HSV-1 DNA polymerase and probably accounts for the mechanism of potentiation.

Acyclovir↗

Metabolic activation of the nucleoside analog 9-[( 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl)guanine in human diploid fibroblasts infected with human cytomegalovirus.

9-[( 2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]-methyl)guanine (BW B759U) is a more potent inhibitor of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in vitro than is the related nucleoside analog acyclovir (ACV). BW B759U was selectively activated to the 5'-triphosphate (BW B759U-triphosphate) in cells infected with HCMV to levels at least 10-fold higher than those measured for ACV-triphosphate and up to as much as 100-fold higher than the levels found in uninfected cells. BW B759U-triphosphate accumulated in HCMV-infected cells with time; the rate of this increase was dependent upon the drug dose and virus multiplicity of infection. Enzyme activities that catalyzed the phosphorylation of thymidine and 2'-deoxycytidine increased 3- to 7-fold in extracts of cells early after HCMV infection but thereafter declined. No concomitant increase in the rate of BW B759U phosphorylation was detected under these assay conditions. Maximal rate of accumulation of both BW B759U-triphosphate and ACV-triphosphate after a short exposure to drug occurred in the late phase of the infective cycle, as the titer of extracellular virus reached a peak in untreated cultures, but after the decline of stimulated host deoxypyrimidine kinase activities. Once formed, the BW B759U-triphosphate pool decreased very slowly and thus it persisted for several days in both HCMV-infected and uninfected cells.

Acyclovir↗

Inosine analogs as chemotherapeutic agents for African trypanosomes: metabolism in trypanosomes and efficacy in tissue culture.

Certain purine analogs, the pyrazolopyrimidines, are effective chemotherapeutic agents against Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi both in vitro and in some clinical models. Heretofore they have not been effective against the African trypanosomes; this suggested that these organisms were not comparable to the other pathogens with respect to their purine metabolism. We have studied the efficacy and metabolism of the pyrazolopyrimidine bases allopurinol and thiopurinol, their respective ribonucleosides, and the C-nucleosides formycin B and 9-deazainosine in Trypanosoma brucei subsp. gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei subsp. rhodesiense. The efficacy of these compounds was dependent on the purine content of the culture medium. The C-nucleosides were the most effective, with 90% effective doses for formycin B and 9-deazainosine of 0.01 and 2 micrograms/ml, respectively. Metabolism was the same in both the bloodstream and culture forms and identical to that reported for Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi. Both agents were phosphorylated to the ribonucleotide and then aminated to produce adenine nucleotide analogs. Growth inhibition studies were performed with three inosine analogs (allopurinol riboside, formycin B, and 9-deazainosine) on trypomastigotes grown in bone marrow tissue culture. Both C-nucleosides eradicated the infection at a concentration of 0.25 micrograms/ml. Unlike formycin B, 9-deazainosine is not known to be aminated by mammalian cells and appears to be relatively nontoxic in three different mammalian tissue culture systems. This nucleoside was very active against all pathogenic leishmaniae and trypanosomes investigated and is worthy of further study.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin G-induced single ionic channels in human alveolar macrophage membranes.

While it is well known that the engagement of IgG Fc receptors on the macrophage surface triggers a number of cellular responses, including particle ingestion, secretion, and respiratory burst activity, the mechanism of signal transmission following ligand binding remains poorly understood. To acquire more data in this area, we studied the electrical properties of the macrophage membrane and its response to oligomeric immunoglobulin G (IgG) using the patch-clamp technique on human alveolar macrophages that were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage and maintained in short-term tissue culture. The results showed that cell resting potentials, as determined from whole-cell tight seal recordings, increased from -15 mV on the day of plating to -56 mV after the first day in culture and remained stable at this hyperpolarized level. Macrophages revealed an input resistance of 3.3 G omega, independent of age in culture. Extracellular application of heat-aggregated human IgG to cells voltage-clamped at -70 mV resulted in peak inward currents of approximately 470 pA. We identified an IgG-dependent, nonselective channel in both cell-attached and isolated membrane patches, with a unitary conductance of approximately 350 pS and a predominant subconductance level of 235 pS in symmetrical NaCl solutions. Single channel open times were observed to be in the range of seconds and, in addition, were dependent upon membrane voltage. Channel opening involved transitions between a number of kinetic states and subconductance levels. Channel events recorded in cell-attached patches showed characteristic exponential relaxations, which implied a variation in membrane potential as a result of a single ion channel opening. These data suggest that the IgG-dependent nonselective cation channel that we have characterized may provide the link between Fc receptor engagement and subsequent cellular activation.

Adult↗

The effect of solvent polarity upon rotational barriers in nikethamide.

In summary, dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were used to study the hindered internal rotation of the amide bond of the analeptic nikethamide. The rotatory motion of this bond was studied in a series of solvents of increasing polarity: CDCl3, CH3(CH2)3OD, CH3CH2OD, CH3OD and D2O. Motion about the amide bond was increasingly hindered in direct proportion to solvent polarity, correlating with enhanced hydrogen bond formation between nikethamide and the more polar solvent molecules. Diethylamide group motion would be expected to affect binding of the carbonyl oxygen to cholinergic receptor sites. The degree to which association to a receptor site can be affected by this rotatory motion may vary from 0 to 4 kcal/mole, the variability being entirely dependent upon the polarity of the binding site. An increase in rotamer lifetime, corresponding to a more polar environment, would be expected to enhance the kinetics of nikethamide association to the receptor site.

Animals↗

Monophosphates of formycin B and allopurinol riboside. Interactions with leishmanial and mammalian succino-AMP synthetase and GMP reductase.

Formycin B 5'-monophosphate (Form B-MP) and allopurinol riboside 5'-monophosphate ( HPPR -MP) are isomers of IMP that are metabolically produced when Leishmania spp. are incubated with the antileishmanial agents formycin B and allopurinol or allopurinol riboside. The interactions of Form B-MP with succino -AMP synthetase and GMP reductase from both leishmanial and mammalian sources were compared with the data of earlier studies with HPPR -MP. Both analogs could substitute for IMP as a substrate for succino -AMP synthetase isolated from Leishmania donovani. The V'max values of Form B-MP and HPPR -MP were about 1% of the V'max of IMP. Only Form B-MP (and not HPPR -MP) could serve as an alternative substrate for mammalian succino -AMP synthetase. The V'max of Form B-MP was 40% that of IMP. The corresponding analogs of AMP, ADP and ATP were produced when Formycin B was incubated with mouse L cells. The Formycin A residue was incorporated into the cellular RNA. The amount of Formycin A-TP produced (relative to ATP) in mouse L cells was considerably less than that produced in Leishmania spp. Both Form B-MP and HPPR -MP were inhibitors of partially purified GMP reductase from L. donovani. The binding of Form B-MP and HPPR -MP to human GMP reductase was 40- and 100-fold weaker, respectively, than the binding to leishmanial GMP reductase. Pretreatment of promastigotes of L. donovani with either allopurinol or Formycin B resulted in greater than 95% reduction of the incorporation of the radiolabel from [14C]xanthine into ATP and greater than 80% reduction of the incorporation of the label into GTP. The HPPR -MP and Form B-MP present in these cells may have inhibited the leishmanial succino -AMP synthetase and GMP reductase. The analogs had little or no effect on the pool sizes of ATP and GTP of either mouse L cells or L. donovani.

Adenylosuccinate Synthase↗

Metabolic studies of high doses of allopurinol in humans.

In animals and in humans given high doses of allopurinol, the oxidation of allopurinol to oxipurinol is inhibited, resulting in a higher proportion of unchanged allopurinol and of allopurinol riboside in plasma and urine than is seen at low doses. The dose which produces this inhibition of allopurinol oxidation is higher in rodents than in man or in the dog. Urinary orotate and orotidine increased in proportion to the dose of allopurinol. These increased levels of orotate would be expected to compete more effectively with 5-fluorouracil for conversion to a nucleotide by orotate phosphoribosyltransferase. Since allopurinol and allopurinol riboside are active against leishmaniae in vitro, it may be possible to attain therapeutic levels of allopurinol and allopurinol riboside in vivo by using high doses of allopurinol.

Allopurinol↗

Single-channel recordings of apical membrane chloride conductance in A6 epithelial cells.

The apical membrane of epithelial cells from the A6 cell line grown on impermeable substrata was studied using the patch-clamp technique. We defined the apical membrane as that membrane in contact with the growth medium. In about 50% of the patches, channels with single-unit conductances of 360 +/- 45 pS in symmetrical 105 mM NaCl solutions, and characteristic voltage-dependent inactivation were observed. Using excised membrane patches and varying the ionic composition of the bathing medium, we determined that the channels were anion selective, with a permeability ratio for Cl- over Na+ of about 9:1, calculated from the reversal potential using the constant-field equation. The channel was most active at membrane potentials between +/- 20 mV and inactivated, usually within a few seconds, at higher potentials of either polarity. Reactivation from this inactivation was slow, sometimes requiring minutes. In addition to its fully open state, the channel could also enter a flickering state, which appeared to involve rapid transitions to one or more submaximal conductance levels. The channel was inhibited by the disulfonic stilbene SITS in a manner characteristic of reversible open-channel blockers.

Animals↗

Efficacy of pyrazolopyrimidine ribonucleosides against Trypanosoma cruzi: studies in vitro and in vivo with sensitive and resistant strains.

Strains of Trypanosoma cruzi differ in their susceptibilities to and metabolism of pyrazolopyrimidines. Allopurinol riboside can control but not eliminate infections with a sensitive strain in both tissue culture and mice. Formycin B, which proved to be greater than 10-fold more effective on a weight basis, showed a similar strain specificity but could eliminate an infection with a sensitive strain from tissue culture. However, this drug, unlike allopurinol riboside, was converted to toxic analogues of adenosine mono-, di-, and triphosphate by uninfected tissue culture cells. Thiopurinol and its riboside were effective against all strains unless culture was performed in purine-defined medium. Thus formycin B and allopurinol riboside appear to be good models for the design of antitrypanosomal agents. Suitable modification of the molecule may provide an effective chemotherapeutic agent.

Adenine↗

Biological action of inosine analogs in Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp.

Previous investigations have suggested that inosine analogs would be good models for the development of chemotherapeutic agents active against pathogenic hemoflagellates. We have systematically modified the five-membered heterocyclic ring of six inosine analogs and tested them for their antiprotozoal activities and toxicity to a mammalian cell line. All six analogs were very active against the three protozoan pathogens Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Trypanosoma gambiense. Two of the six, 9-deazainosine and allopurinol ribonucleoside, had very little toxicity for mouse L cells and offer promise as potential chemotherapeutic agents.

Animals↗

The nature of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated hemopoiesis, colony stimulating factor (CSF) requirement for colony formation, and the effect of TPA on [125I]CSF-1 binding to macrophages.

The tumor-promoting phorbol diester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was found to act both independently of and synergistically with the mononuclear phagocyte specific colony stimulating factor (CSF-1) to stimulate the formation of macrophage colonies in cultures of mouse bone marrow cells. In contrast, TPA did not synergize with other CSF subclasses that stimulate the formation of eosinophil, eosinophil-neutrophil, neutrophil, neutrophil-macrophage, and macrophage colonies, nor with either of the two factors required for megakaryocyte colony formation, megakaryocyte CSF, and megakaryocyte colony potentiator. In serum-free mouse bone marrow cell cultures TPA retained the ability to independently stimulate macrophage colony formation. However, TPA-stimulated colony formation was suboptimal and delayed in serum-free cultures that could support optimal colony formation in the presence of CSF-1. In addition, TPA did not directly compete with [125I]CSF-1 at 4 degrees C for its specific, high-affinity receptor on mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages. However, a 2-hour preincubation of the cells with TPA at 37 degrees caused almost complete loss of the receptor. Thus, TPA is able to mimic CSF-1 in its effects on CSF-1 responsive cells in some aspects (the spectrum of target cells, the morphology of resulting colonies, and the ability to down-regulate the CSF-1 receptor) but it is not able to mimic CSF-1 in other ways (TPA alone cannot stimulate the full CSF-1 response, TPA does not stimulate the most primitive CSF-1 responsive cells, and TPA does not bind to the CSF-1 receptor).

Animals↗