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Biomedical subjects

E Benoit

Publications and source records attributed to E Benoit.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Novel mutations in the p16/CDKN2A binding region of the cyclin-dependent kinase-4 gene.

Mutations in genes that lie in the retinoblastoma pathway have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many tumor types. Two critical components that determine progression from G1 to S include p16/CDKN2A and CDK4. Alterations in p16/CDKN2A have been well documented in multiple cancers, including melanoma. However, changes in CDK4 are apparently more rare. Only two alterations, both at codon 24, have been identified in CDK4: an activating arginine-to-cysteine transition and a germ-line arginine-to-histidine substitution in one French kindred. In a survey of 20 neuroblastomas, 17 uncultured metastatic melanomas, 33 uncultured primary uveal melanomas, 8 colon cancer cell lines, and 20 primary colon cancer samples, we found no evidence of mutations in exon 2 of CDK4. From our cell lines derived from metastatic melanomas, we detected two alterations in the functionally critical exon 2 of CDK4: a lysine-to-glutamine transition at codon 22 and the arginine-to-histidine mutation at codon 24. These findings document several novel changes in the p16-binding region of CDK4.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1998

Determination of heparin in aqueous solutions.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a volumetric method for assaying heparin in aqueous media. METHOD: Heparin is precipitated out with an aqueous solution of an organic amine by titration and the end-point is based on the measurement of the medium dielectric permittivity. We studied the titration of a 500 IU/ml heparin solution with a 0.08 M cetylpyridinium chloride solution at pH 6.8. Then, we assayed sulphate groups selectively at pH 2. The results were compared against a classical method of SO2 determination. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the volumetric method were evaluated at pH 6.8 and compared with the characteristics of a chromogenic method, usually used for the assay of heparin in biological fluids. RESULTS: A linear relationship between anticoagulant activity and sulphate and carboxyl group concentration was observed. The method was less sensitive but more reproducible than the chromogenic method. CONCLUSION: The proposed method can be used for aqueous solutions and is easy to carry out. It can be fully automated and applied to formulation studies.

Cetylpyridinium↗
PubMed1998

Species-dependent enantioselective glucuronidation of carprofen.

1. The stereoselective glucuronidation of carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was investigated in vitro using microsomes prepared from liver of different species (rat, dog, horse, sheep and man) or UGT2B1 expressed in fibroblasts. 2. The Km towards the drug was very similar among these species and for the two enantiomers, whereas the Vmax varied substantially according to the animal used. The rat exhibited a high stereoselective glucuronidation whereas other species, including man, presented a low stereoselectivity. The R-enantiomer was glucuronidated at a more efficient rate than its enantiomorph, and was a better substrate (in terms of Vmax/Km). 3. To explain the enantioselective disposition of carprofen in man and in the different species, the ratio of the enzymatic efficacies (Vmax/Km) were compared with the ratio of the pharmacokinetic parameters AUCs. The basic hypothesis that the intrinsic clearance reflect the enantioselective behaviour of carprofen seemed substantiated when we focused on man and rat glucuronidation, but the in vivo-in-vitro correlation was not possible in other species. 4. In conclusion, the chiral pharmacokinetics of carprofen is less dependent on the stereoselective glucuronidation than other stereoselective processes such as protein binding of carprofen, enzymatic hydrolysis, or renal elimination of glucuronides.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Expression of two different FMOs in sheep liver.

Five different members of the flavin-dependent monooxygenase gene family from different animal species have been described to date. We report the purification and characterization of two FMOs from sheep liver. The predominant isoform was purified 240-fold and was homogenous in SDS PAGE. Its molecular weight (MW) was 58 KDa. The N-terminal sequence, the cross-reactivity with anti-rat FMO3 antibodies, and the catalytic properties such the ability to metabolize trimethylamine (TMA) and to stereoselectively produce L-methionine-d-sulfoxide from L-methionine, are all consistent with this protein being an FMO3. The minor form has a MW of 59 KDa and cross-reacts with anti-rat FMO1 antibodies. The methimazole S-oxidase activity catalyzed by this form was not inhibited by TMA but was inhibited by imipramine. These facts imply that this protein is an FMO1. The expression profile of FMO in sheep liver is similar to that in the human or the mouse but differs from the rat profile.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[Mechanism of action of neurotoxins acting on the inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels].

This review focuses on the mechanism(s) of action of neurotoxins acting on the inactivation of voltage-gated Na channels. Na channels are transmembrane proteins which are fundamental for cellular communication. These proteins form pores in the plasma membrane allowing passive ionic movements to occur. Their opening and closing are controlled by gating systems which depend on both membrane potential and time. Na channels have three functional properties, mainly studied using electrophysiological and biochemical techniques, to ensure their role in the generation and propagation of action potentials: 1) a highly selectivity for Na ions, 2) a rapid opening ("activation"), responsible for the depolarizing phase of the action potential, and 3) a late closing ("inactivation") involved in the repolarizing phase of the action potential. As an essential protein for membrane excitability, the Na channel is the specific target of a number of vegetal and animal toxins which, by binding to the channel, alter its activity by affecting one or more of its properties. At least six toxin receptor sites have been identified on the neuronal Na channel on the basis of binding studies. However, only toxins interacting with four of these sites (sites 2, 3, 5 et 6) produce alterations of channel inactivation. The maximal percentage of Na channels modified by the binding of neurotoxins to sites 2 (batrachotoxin and some alkaloids), 3 (alpha-scorpion and sea anemone toxins), 5 (brevetoxins and ciguatoxins) et 6 (delta-conotoxins) is different according to the site considered. However, in all cases, these channels do not inactivate. Moreover, Na channels modified by toxins which bind to sites 2, 5 and 6 activate at membrane potentials more negative than do unmodified channels. The physiological consequences of Na channel modifications, induced by the binding of neurotoxins to sites 2, 3, 5 and 6, are (i) an inhibition of cellular excitability due to an important membrane depolarization (site 2), (ii) a decrease of cellular excitability due to an important increase in the action potential duration (site 3) and (iii) an increase in cellular excitability which results in spontaneous and repetitive firing of action potentials (sites 5 and 6). The biochemical and electrophysiological studies performed with these toxins, as well as the determination of their molecular structure, have given basic information on the function and structure of the Na channel protein. Therefore, various models representing the different states of Na channels have been proposed to account for the neurotoxin-induced modifications of Na inactivation. Moreover, the localization of receptor binding sites 2, 3, 5 et 6 for these toxins on the neuronal Na channel has been deduced and the molecular identification of the recognition site(s) for some of them has been established on the alpha sub-unit forming the Na channel protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Gambiertoxin (CTX-4B), purified from wild Gambierdiscus toxicus dinoflagellates, induces Na(+)-dependent swelling of single frog myelinated axons and motor nerve terminals in situ.

The effects of gambiertoxin (CTX-4B), purified from the dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus, were assessed on the morphology of both frog myelinated axons and motor nerve terminals, using confocal laser scanning microscopy. During the action of the toxin (24 and 30 nM), a marked swelling of nodes of Ranvier and motor nerve terminals was observed. The CTX-4B-induced swelling could be prevented by blocking voltage-dependent Na+ channels with tetrodotoxin, and could be partly reversed by an external hyperosmotic solution containing 100 mM D-mannitol. The results suggest that CTX-4B, by modifying voltage-dependent Na+ channels, increases internal Na+ concentration of axons and nerve terminals and consequently induces water influx to compensate such an increase. It is suggested that stimulated transmitter release by CTX-4B, as well as by hyperosmotic dmannitol, contribute also to the swelling of the terminals through an increase in their surface area.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Adsorption of Beta-Blockers onto Poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles: Adsorption Model and Dielectric Interpretation

The objective of this report is to understand the boundary mechanism of a model drug, propranolol hydrochloride, onto poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles stabilized with a mixture of dextran and dextran sulfate, and to explain the similarity between depletion isotherms and the curves obtained with the dielectric method. The dramatic influence of the sulfate groups has been demonstrated by the dosage of the dextran sulfate in the bulk aqueous medium as well as by the interpretation of the propranolol hydrochloride adsorption isotherm. Due to its sulfate groups, dextran sulfate is able to bind to propranolol hydrochloride by an ion exchange process and the resulting complex moves toward the nanoparticle surface. It is the first time that such a model is proposed. In addition, this model supports and explains the dielectric answer: indeed, we had demonstrated that the dielectric method makes it possible to determine the amount of drug loaded onto the nanoparticles, without any ultracentrifugation or assay of the drug. Finally, the application field of the dielectric method may be enlarged to other areas such as ionic resins.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Nodal swelling produced by ciguatoxin-induced selective activation of sodium channels in myelinated nerve fibers.

Ciguatoxin-1b, the major toxin involved in ciguatera fish poisoning, and D-mannitol were examined on frog nodes of Ranvier using confocal laser scanning microscopy and conventional current- and voltage-clamp techniques. During the action of 10 nM ciguatoxin-1b, an increase in nodal volume was observed as determined by digital image processing and three-dimensional reconstruction of axons. The increase was prevented by blocking Na+ channels with tetrodotoxin. Ciguatoxin-1b (10 nM) induced high frequency action potential discharges up to 70-100 Hz. Analysis of Na+ current revealed that the toxin modified a current fraction which was activated at resting membrane potential and failed to inactivate. Increasing the osmolality of the external solution by about 50% with D-mannitol restored the nodal volume to its control value and suppressed spontaneous action potentials. In addition, D-mannitol affected unmodified and ciguatoxin-1b-treated Na+ currents in a similar manner causing a reduction of maximum conductance, negative shifts of current reversal potential and modification of the voltage-dependence of current activation and inactivation. In conclusion, ciguatoxin-1b induced a tetrodotoxin-sensitive swelling of nodes of Ranvier and selectively affected the Na+ current of myelinated axons. It is proposed that ciguatoxin-1b, by modifying Na+ current, increased intracellular Na+ concentration which caused water influx and nodal swelling. This may explain some of the reported symptoms of ciguatera fish poisoning. D-mannitol, an agent used for ciguatera treatment, was found to reverse the effects of ciguatoxin-1b by reducing Na+ entry and increasing the efflux of water through its osmotic action. It is the first time that osmotic changes produced by the selective activation of ionic channels, i.e. Na+ channels, are reported.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

Chiral inversion of fenoprofen in horses and dogs: an in vivo-in vitro study.

Fenoprofen (FPF) is a chiral non-steroid antiinflammatory drug, marketed as a racemic mixture of its R(-) and S(+) enantiomers. Its stereoselective disposition in humans and animals is due to a chiral inversion converting R(-)FPF into S(+)FPF. The first step of this reaction, which produces an acyl-CoA thioester, is catalysed by an acyl-CoA ligase. A stereospecific high performance liquid chromatography assay was used to study the disposition of FPF enantiomers in four geldings and three male beagle dogs, following intravenous doses of racemic FPF (1 mg/kg in horses), R(-)FPF (0.5 mg/kg in horses, 1 mg/kg in dogs), and S(+)FPF (0.5 mg/kg in horses, 1 mg/kg in dogs). A unidirectional stereoinversion of the R(-) enantiomer into its optical antipode (38% in horses, 90% in dogs) was demonstrated. This explained the clear enantioselective behaviour of FPF in both species. Acyl-CoA ligase activity (Km = 473.2 +/- 92.5 microM; Vmax = 23 +/- 3.3 nmol/min/mg) has also been quantified in vitro on equine hepatic microsomes, using a high performance liquid chromatography method to measure thioester formation. The present study showed that, in horses and dogs, as previously demonstrated in rats and sheep, the R(-)FPF clearance was better correlated with ligase activity than with inversion rate. A highly significant linear relationship was demonstrated between these variables.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The flavin-containing monooxygenases in rat liver: evidence for the expression of a second form different from FMO1.

A second form of rat liver FMO, FMO-A, was separated and purified by chromatography on Blue Sepharose Fast flow 6. This FMO-A is different from FMO1 by antigenic properties (anti-FMO-A did not cross-react with FMO1, and reciprocally) and by catalytic properties (the Km for trimethylamine was 3.8 microM and 141.4 microM for FMO-A and FMO1, respectively; the Km for imipramine was 536 microM and 17.4 microM for FMO-A and FMO1, respectively). Furthermore, N-terminal amino sequencing revealed differences in the primary structure of these two FMOs although they both contained the highly conserved FAD-binding domain (Gly-X-Gly-X-X-Gly).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

(-)-R-fenoprofen: formation of fenoprofenyl-coenzyme A by rat liver microsomes.

The thioesterification of fenoprofen (FPF) by rat liver microsomes has been studied using an HPLC method enabling direct quantification of the FPF-CoA produced. Over the concentration range studied (5-400 microM), studies showed the participation of a single CoA ligase in the formation of FPF-CoA, in contrast with the involvement of several isozymes with different affinities, that has been found with ibuprofen (IPF). The Km for the reaction was dependent upon the presence of non-ionic detergent, a concentration of 0.05% Triton X-100 reducing the Km from 397 to 20 microM although the detergent had no effect on Vmax. The microsomal long-chain fatty acid CoA ligase was markedly enantioselective towards (-)-R-FPF and the formation of (-)-R-FP-CoA was inhibited by both the (+)-S enantiomer and palmitic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

In vitro fenoprofenyl-coenzyme A thioester formation: interspecies variations.

In vitro coenzyme A thioester formation from (-)-(R)-fenoprofen (FPF) and palmitic acid has been studied using liver microsomes from rat, guinea pig, sheep, and dog. In every species with both palmitic acid or (-)-(R)-fenoprofen, the Lineweaver-Burk plot was linear in the substrate concentration range used and as a consequence agrees with the involvement of only one isoenzyme (or different isoenzymes of similar Km values). The Vmax values for the thioesterification of (-)-(R)-fenoprofen present large species variations from 2.1 +/- 1.0 with sheep liver microsomes to 60.6 +/- 11 nmol/min/mg with dog liver microsomes. These values statistically significantly correlate (r = 0.94) to the Vmax values observed when palmitic acid was used as a substrate. Furthermore palmitic acid inhibited (-)-(R)-fenoprofen-CoA formation in the same extent in all animal species. The stereoselectivity of the thioesterification was also species dependent.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Comparative metabolism of R(-)-fenoprofen in rats and sheep.

The chiral inversion of 2-arylpropionic acids occurs in many species. It is a unique reaction specific to this group of drugs. In this study R-(-)-fenoprofen (R-(-)-FPF) was used as a model compound to investigate metabolic chiral inversion in sheep in vivo and in vitro to compare the data with the results obtained in rats. Metabolic inversion in sheep was 80%. The apparent mean values of Km and Vmax of thioester formation were: 392 microM and 2.08 nmol/min/mg in sheep and 500 microM and 22 nmol/min/mg in rats. For hydroxylation, the apparent mean values were Vmax: 0.02 nmol/min/mg in rats and 0.01 nmol/min/mg in sheep. There was no correlation between in vitro thioesterification and in vivo chiral inversion in sheep as compared to rats. In sheep most of the thioester formed underwent inversion (80%) while in rats, where in vitro thioesterification was greater, in vivo inversion was less (42%). In consequence, in rats other metabolic pathways for R(-)-FPF-CoA, such as incorporation into triacylglycerols and conjugation with amino acids, may be quantitatively more important.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of intravenous anaesthetics on nerve axons.

The effects of ketamine, etomidate, alphaxalone and alphadolone acetate on nodal sodium and potassium currents of frog myelinated nerve fibre have been examined. The four general anaesthetics reversibly depressed ionic currents, although they tended to be more effective in blocking potassium than sodium current. The potassium current was reduced by etomidate and alphaxalone in a time-dependent manner. This was not found for ketamine and alphadolone acetate. In addition to blocking effects on sodium current, etomidate, alphaxalone and alphadolone acetate, but not ketamine, induced a negative shift of steady-state sodium inactivation-voltage curves. Collectively, the general anaesthetics appeared to alter specifically and differentially sodium and potassium channel-gating systems. The simplest interpretation of these results suggests that the compounds produce state-dependent blocks of ionic channels, and that there are general anaesthetic receptor sites located on the channel proteins themselves. Furthermore, potassium and sodium channels may contain several types of receptor sites, through which anaesthetics could exert their different actions.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1995

Chiral sulfoxidation of albendazole by the flavin adenine dinucleotide-containing and cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases from rat liver microsomes.

The enantioselectivity of the in vitro sulfoxidation of the prochiral drug albendazole was investigated in rat liver microsomes. When biological material obtained from control rats and phenobarbital-, 3-methylcholanthrene-, or dexamethazone-pretreated rats was subjected to specific immunological and chemical inhibitors, it was shown that two main enzymatic systems--cytochrome P450s and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO)--were responsible for the sulfoxidation. Purified FMO from rat liver was used to study the enantioselectivity of this enzyme in the sulfoxidation of albendazole. The enantiospecificity of FMO is the reverse of that of the P450s. Nevertheless, each P450 isoenzyme involved in this reaction presents its own individual stereoselectivity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Enantioselective glucuronidation and subsequent biliary excretion of carprofen in horses.

Carprofen (CPF) enantiomers and their glucuronide conjugates (GLUC) were measured in plasma and bile of horses after IV administration of the racemic compound (0.7 mg/kg of body weight). The CPF was detectable in plasma for up to 72 hours after dosing, whereas GLUC appeared early (time for maximal plasma concentration, 1 hour) and was measurable transiently at low concentration (maximal plasma concentration, 0.5 microgram/ml). The enantiospecific plasma profiles indicated a clear predominance of R-CPF, whereas the stereoselectivity of the glucuronides favored S-GLUC. At 1, 2, and 12 hours after administration of the drug, bile concentrations of GLUC were high compared with those in plasma and enantioselectivity favored S-GLUC. These data indicate that the higher body clearance observed for S-CPF is a consequence of the enantioselectivity in liver glucuronidation and subsequent biliary excretion of the S enantiomer of the drug.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Stereoselective S-oxygenation of an aryl-trifluoromethyl sulfoxide to the corresponding sulfone by rat liver cytochromes P450.

Toltrazuril sulfoxide (TZR.SO) is the metabolite of the antiparasitic drug toltrazuril (TZR; 1-methyl-3-[3-methyl-4-[4-[trifluoromethyl]thio]phenoxy]phenyl- 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione). The results of the present paper demonstrate that TZR.SO was metabolized by rat liver microsomes to the corresponding sulfone (TZR.SO2). The reaction was mediated almost exclusively by different cytochromes P450, the most active being cytochromes P450 3A. TZR.SO exists as a racemic mixture; when each enantiomer was incubated separately in the presence of untreated rat liver microsomes, a 7.3-fold difference in the rate of S-oxygenation was found, indicating a marked substrate enantioselectivity for the reaction.

Animals↗