Biomedical subjects

G Powis

Publications and source records attributed to G Powis.

251 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Senecio anonymus. Separation of a complex alkaloid extract using droplet counter-current chromatography.

Ten 12-membered macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, all of them esters of the necines, retronecine or otonecine, have been isolated from Senecio anonymus. The separation, carried out by droplet counter-current chromatography, afforded senecionine [1], integerrimine [2], retrorsine [3], senkirkine [5], neosenkirkine [6], otosenine [10], hydroxysenkirkine [7], and a new alkaloid given the trivial name anonamine [9]. Traces of usaramine [4] and another new alkaloid, hydroxyneosenkirkine [8], were detected by 1H nmr. In addition, the previously unreported 3a beta-hydroxy-4-ethoxy-2,6-perhydroindoledione [11] was isolated. X-ray structures were obtained for neosenkirkine [6], hydroxysenkirkine [7], anonamine [9], and [11]. 1H-13C heteronuclear shift correlated nmr (HETCOR) provided unambiguous chemical shift assignments for 13C-nmr data. Antitumor activity was assayed using the A204-rhabdomyosarcoma cell line in soft agarose.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Down regulation of the expression of the p110, p85 and p55 subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase during colon cancer cell anchorage-independent growth.

We have found that analogues of phosphatidylinositol modified at the 3'-myo-inositol position prevent phosphorylation by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibit the anchorage-independent growth of HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells as colonies in soft agarose but have no effect on monolayer growth on a plastic surface. Examination of an incomplete differential display library revealed 3 genes whose expression was increased and 11 genes whose expression was decreased or absent in HT-29 cells growing as colonies compared to monolayer growth. One of the cDNAs corresponding to an mRNA that was expressed only in cells growing as a monolayer was a 126 bp fragment that had 98% identity with a fragment of mRNA for human p55PIK PI3-kinase regulatory subunit. The down regulation of p55PIK gene expression in HT-29 cells growing as colonies was confirmed by RT-PCR using p55PIK-specific oligonucleotide primers. RT-PCR and Northern hybridisation were used to show that the expression of the p110 catalytic subunit and the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase were also down regulated in HT-29 cells growing as colonies. We measured a decrease of approximately 25% in total PI3-kinase activity of the HT-29 cells grown in soft agarose compared to HT-29 cells grown as monolayer. The results suggest that p110 PI3-kinase activity may be limiting in cells showing anchorage independent-growth which could explain their increased sensitivity, compared to cells in monolayer culture, to inhibitors of PI3-kinase signalling.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative studies of the in vitro metabolism and covalent binding of 14C-benzene by liver slices and microsomal fraction of mouse, rat, and human.

Metabolism of benzene by the liver has been suggested to play an important role in the hepatotoxicity of benzene. The role of the different benzene metabolites and the causes of species differences in benzene hepatotoxicity are, however, not known. The metabolism and covalent binding of 14C-benzene by liver microsomal fractions and liver slices from rat, mouse, and human subjects have been studied. Rat microsomal fraction formed phenol at a rate of 0.32 nmol/min/mg of protein; mouse microsomal fraction formed phenol at 0.64 nmol/min/mg and hydroquinone at 0.03 nmol/min/mg; and human microsomal fraction formed phenol at 0.46 nmol/min/mg and hydroquinone at 0.07 nmol/min/mg. Covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites to rat, mouse, and human liver microsomal protein was 29, 113, and 169 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. The rates of metabolite formation from benzene by liver slices in nmol/min/g of tissue were: rat, phenol 0.15, hydroquinone 0.26, and phenylsulfate 1.22; mouse: phenol 0.13, hydroquinone 0.29, phenylsulfate 1.37, and phenylglucuronide 1.34; and human: phenol 0.16, hydroquinone 0.27, phenylsulfate 0.83, and phenylglucuronide 0.52. trans,trans-Muconic acid formation was not detected with liver slices of any species. Covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites to rat, mouse, and human liver slices was 8.2, 79.7, and 27.3 pmol/min/g liver, respectively. There was no correlation between ascorbic acid levels in the human liver slices and covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites. The results show that phenol and hydroquinone found in extrahepatic tissues, including bone marrow, of animals exposed to benzene could originate from the liver. There was no evidence for the release of highly reactive benzene metabolites such as trans,trans-muconaldehyde or p-benzoquinone from liver cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolism and covalent binding of [14C]toluene by human and rat liver microsomal fractions and liver slices.

The in vitro metabolism of [14C]toluene by liver microsomes and liver slices from male Fischer F344 rats and human subjects has been compared. Rat liver microsomes produced only benzyl alcohol from toluene. Liver microsomes from human subjects metabolized toluene to benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and benzoic acid. Liver microsomes from one human donor also produced p-cresol and o-cresol. The overall rate of toluene metabolism by human liver microsomes was 9-fold greater than by rat liver microsomes. Human liver microsomal metabolism of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde required NADPH and was inhibited by carbon monoxide and high pH (pH 10). but was not inhibited by ADP-ribose or sodium azide. These results suggest that cytochrome P-450, rather than alcohol dehydrogenase, was responsible for the metabolism of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Human and rat liver slices metabolized toluene to hippuric acid and benzoic acid. The overall rate of toluene metabolism by human liver slices was 1.3-fold greater than by rat liver slices. Cresols and cresol conjugates were not detected in human or rat liver slice incubations. Covalent binding of [14C]toluene to human liver microsomes and slices was 21-fold and 4-fold greater than to the comparable rat liver preparations. Covalent binding did not occur in the absence of NADPH, was significantly decreased by coincubation with cysteine, glutathione, or superoxide dismutase, and was unaffected by coincubation with lysine. Protease and ribonuclease digestion decreased the amount of toluene covalently bound to human liver microsomes by 78% and 27% respectively. Acid washing of human liver microsomes had no effect on covalent binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The metabolism and disposition of aniline in the isolated blood-perfused liver of the rat.

In the isolated, blood-perfused liver of the rat, aniline is removed from the perfusion medium rapidly over the first 60 min, but more slowly over the following 120 min. The main metabolite found in the perfusion medium is an acid-labile conjugate of aniline which after 3 hr accounts for 33% of the aniline added, whereas p-aminophenol conjugates account for a further 13%. No free p-aminophenol could be detected in the perfusion medium and only a small amount in the bile. Aniline conjugates form the major metabolites found in the bile. A kinetic analysis of the data is presented and a two-compartment model is postulated in which aniline is removed for excretion in the bile or for metabolism from the first compartment. SKF 525-A, 0.2 mM, completely blocks the formation of p-aminophenol and inhibits the formation of the acid-labile aniline conjugate by 62%. There is also an increase in the size of the second compartment.

Aniline Compounds↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human and dog, but not rat, isolated hepatocytes have decreased foreign compound-metabolizing activity compared to liver slices.

A comparison has been made of the metabolism of biphenyl by isolated hepatocytes and liver slices from rat, dog, and human. Hepatocytes were prepared by low Ca2+ and enzyme digestion of the perfused liver of rat or liver slices from the rat, dog, and human. The ratio of free to total hydroxybiphenyl formation (R) was a sensitive measure of hepatocyte functional viability in perfusion-isolated rat hepatocytes, showing a significant negative correlation (r = -0.920, p less than 0.01) with trypan blue exclusion (TBE). Rs for rat hepatocytes prepared by the perfusion and slice-digestion techniques were not significantly different. Biphenyl metabolism and TBE in rat, dog, and human hepatocytes isolated by the slice-digestion technique were compared. Total hydroxybiphenyl formation by dog and human hepatocytes was 21% and 4% of that seen with rat hepatocytes. Rs for rat, dog, and human hepatocytes were 0.19, 0.46, and 0.63, respectively. TBE for all the hepatocyte preparations was approximately 90%. In contrast to the hepatocytes, total hydroxybiphenyl formation by slices of dog and human liver was 106% and 108%, respectively, of that seen with slices of rat liver. Rs for rat, dog, and human liver slices were 0.11, 0.21, and 0.26, respectively. These results suggest that hepatocytes prepared by the slice-digestion technique from dog and human but not rat liver have lost some of their ability to oxidize biphenyl and form biphenyl conjugates. This may be due to damage to the hepatocytes during isolation. TBE does not appear to be an accurate measure of hepatocyte functional viability between species. It is concluded that liver slices may provide a better model than isolated hepatocytes for foreign compound metabolism studies with dog and human liver.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cryopreservation of rat and dog hepatocytes for studies of xenobiotic metabolism and activation.

Isolated human hepatocytes offer a unique way of studying the metabolism and mechanisms of action of drugs and toxic chemicals. Because of the irregular availability of human liver, a way of storing the hepatocytes until they can be conveniently used is required. Using rat and dog isolated hepatocytes, we have developed a procedure for cryopreserving hepatocytes in large numbers such as are needed for metabolism and toxicity studies. Hepatocytes were frozen in medium containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide using a microcomputer-controlled freezing gradient and stored at -196 degrees C. Upon thawing, the total cell recovery for rat hepatocytes was 67%. Cell viability measured by trypan blue (TB) exclusion was 67%, 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-EOC) dealkylation 33%, and cytochrome P-450 75%, compared to fresh hepatocytes. With cryopreserved dog hepatocytes, the total cell recovery was 75%. TB exclusion was 62%, 7-EOC dealkylation 37%, and cytochrome P-450 68%, compared to fresh hepatocytes. The viability of cryopreserved hepatocyte preparations could be improved by density separation on Percoll giving a TB exclusion for rat hepatocytes of 85%, and 7-EOC dealkylation of 69% compared to fresh hepatocytes, with 67% of the viable cells recovered. Biphenyl was used as a substrate to measure integrated xenobiotic metabolizing activity by the hepatocytes. Total hydroxybiphenyl (OHB) formation, a mixed function oxygenase activity, was maintained in cryopreserved Percoll-treated rat hepatocytes at 86%, OHB glucuronide formation at 85%, and OHB sulfate formation at 20% of the values in fresh hepatocytes. In cryopreserved dog hepatocyte, total OHB formation was 39%, and OHB glucuronide and sulfate formation less than 10% of the values in fresh hepatocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Foreign compound metabolism studies with human liver obtained as surgical waste. Relation to donor characteristics and effects of tissue storage.

An investigation has been conducted on the foreign compound-metabolizing activity of human liver collected fresh from surgery or at autopsy from cadavers 3 to 18 hr old, and the effects of low temperature storage on the foreign compound-metabolizing activity of fresh human liver. The enzyme activities studied were microsomal cytochrome P-450 content, biphenyl 4-hydroxylation, benzo-(a)pyrene metabolism, halothane reduction, and 4-hydroxybiphenyl UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, as well as cytosolic thiopurine methyltransferase, thermostable (TS) phenolsulfotransferase, thermolabile (TL) phenolsulfotransferase, and 5-fluorouracil dehydrogenase. Cadaver liver was a poor source of material for metabolism studies with the majority of the enzymes investigated. There was an 84% decrease in the yield of microsomal protein, a 64% decrease in cytochrome P-450 content per mg of microsomal protein, and a 36% decrease in the biphenyl 4-hydroxylase specific activity in human cadaver liver that was a few hours old. UDP-glucuronosyl transferase showed a 70% decrease, TS phenolsulfotransferase a 84% decrease, TL phenolsulfotransferase a 97% decrease, and thiopurine methyltransferase no significant change in specific activity. The loss of activity for many of these enzymes could be simulated by keeping fresh human liver at the temperature of the body after death. Surgical waste provided a good source of fresh, histologically normal, human liver for metabolism studies. Microsomal cytochrome P-450 content showed a significant increase with the age of the liver donor. Metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene to 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene-7,8- and -9,10-diols showed up to 136% higher rates in fresh liver microsomes from female donors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Phase I and pharmacokinetic studies of DON.

DON, a glutamine antagonist, was administered iv to 26 patients with advanced cancer either once every 3 wks or daily for 3 days every 3 wks to determine toxicity and to look for evidence of therapeutic effect. Total doses ranged from 150 to 600 mg/m2. The single-day schedule produced intolerable nausea and vomiting and no evidence of cytotoxicity at 450-550 mg/m2 given over 10 mins or over 4 hrs. On the 3-day schedule, patients had tolerable gastrointestinal toxic effects at total doses up to 480 mg/m2 given in three equally divided doses by 10-min infusion. This dose also produced cytotoxic activity manifested as transient mild leukopenia and, rarely, thrombocytopenia. No objective responses were seen. Analysis of the plasma elimination of DON demonstrated dose-dependent pharmacokinetic behavior. The parent compound was not detectable in the urine of any patient, indicating extensive metabolism of the drug.

Azo Compounds↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin.

The microbial product wortmannin has previously been shown to be a potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. In view of the potential role of this enzyme in transduction of mitogenic signals, we determined the cytotoxic activity of wortmannin against several human tumor cell lines in vitro. The most sensitive lines included GC3 colon carcinoma, IGROV1 ovarian carcinoma, and CCRF-CEM leukemia (IC-50s ranging from 0.7-2.1 microM). The cytotoxicity of wortmannin was decreased approximately 10-fold by serum-free conditions. Wortmannin was generally less active in low passage human breast cancer cell lines that overexpress either epidermal growth factor receptor or Her2/neu. Wortmannin was also tested for in vivo antitumor activity against seven murine tumor and ten human tumor xenograft models. Activity (> 60% inhibition of tumor growth) was observed in only the C3H mammary carcinoma and the human BxPC-3 pancreatic carcinoma xenograft. In vivo antitumor activity did not correlate with in vitro sensitivity to wortmannin cytotoxicity.

Androstadienes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Over-expression of DT-diaphorase in transfected NIH 3T3 cells does not lead to increased anticancer quinone drug sensitivity: a questionable role for the enzyme as a target for bioreductively activated anticancer drugs.

Murine NIH 3T3 cells were stably transfected with human NQO1 (DT-diaphorase) cDNA and clonal cell lines with up to 15-fold elevated DT-diaphorase activity were obtained. These cell lines showed no significant increase in cell growth inhibition by the quinone anticancer drugs mitomycin C, diaziquone and menadione, when compared to vector alone transfected control cells. There was a small increase in sensitivity to doxorubicin. The relative increase in DT-diaphorase activity in the transfected cells compared to the control cell lines is similar to the increase of DT-diaphorase activity found in some human tumors compared to their paired normal tissue. The results of this study, and other evidence, suggests that DT-diaphorase may not, as suggested by others, be a clinically useful target for the bioreductive activation of anticancer drugs.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A multiwell assay for inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and the identification of natural product inhibitors.

A convenient and reliable multisample assay for the screening of inhibitors of the growth factor signalling enzyme phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PtdIns-3-K) has been developed. Four natural product inhibitors of Ptdlns-3-K have been identified with IC50 values for hypericin 0.18 microM, emodin 3.3 microM, asperuloside 2.0 microM and uttronin A 1.1 microM.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibition of phospholipase D by agents that inhibit cell growth.

The phospholipases are an important class of enzymes for growth factor and oncogene intracellular signalling. The anti-tumor drug suramin was found to inhibit phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis and trans-phosphatidylation by solubilized rat brain phospholipase D (PLD) with an IC50 of 15 microM. An azo analogue of suramin, which is a considerably more potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (PIPLC) than suramin, inhibited PLD with and IC50 of 58 microM. D-609, a xanthogenate compound with in vitro antitumor activity, inhibited PLD with an IC50 of 820 microM. The cytotoxic aminosteroid compound U-73, 122 was a weaker inhibitor of PLD with an IC50 of 78 microM. However, U-73, 122 was a more potent inhibitor of PLD in fibroblast membranes with an IC50 of 25 microM, while suramin was less active with an IC50 of 4.2 mM. The antitumor ether lipid drug ET-18-OCH3 did not inhibit solubilized or membrane PLD although it is a potent inhibitor of PIPLC. The results of the study show that the compounds tested have different abilities to inhibit PIPLC and PLD. Access of hydrophilic drugs to membrane PLD may be a limiting factor to their inhibitory activity.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibition of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) phospholipase D by suramin-like compounds.

A number of proteins are found attached to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor that can be cleaved by GPI specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD). There are no known specific inhibitors of GPI-PLD. We examined some inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) for their ability to inhibit human serum and human bone marrow cell GPI-PLD. Azo analogues of suramin were found to be potent inhibitors of GPI-PLD. One compound had an IC50 of 3.7 microM that was 10-fold lower than the IC50 required to inhibit PI-PLC. The azo suramin analogues inhibited cancer cell growth at concentrations similar to those required to inhibit GPI-PLD, and below concentrations required to inhibit growth factor binding. It is possible that inhibition of cell growth might be related to the ability of the compounds to inhibit GPI-PLD.

Cell Division↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase gene expression in human tumors and cell lines, and the effects of serum stimulation and hypoxia.

Thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase are redox proteins that have been implicated in the control of cell proliferation and transformation. We report the levels and activity of these proteins and their mRNAs in human primary tumors and tumor cell lines. Half of human primary colorectal carcinomas (5/10) examined had increased thioredoxin mRNA, of 3- to over 100-fold, compared to adjacent normal colonic mucosa from the same subject. Thioredoxin reductase protein and activity were increased an average of 2-fold in human colorectal tumors compared to normal mucosa. A number of human hematologic and solid tumor cell lines were studied and showed a 10-fold range of thioredoxin mRNA and a 23-fold range of thioredoxin reductase mRNA. Increased proliferation and hypoxia are factors that might contribute to the increased expression in solid tumors. We found that serum stimulation of growth arrested MCF-7 breast cancer cells caused a 59% increase in thioredoxin mRNA and a 62% increase in thioredoxin reductase mRNA by 24 hours. Exposure of HT-20 colon cancer cells to hypoxia resulted in a 14-fold increase in thioredoxin mRNA by 16 hours, and a transient 4-fold increase in thioredoxin reductase mRNA at 1 hour that had returned to control levels by 8 hours. Cancer cells were found to release thioredoxin into the medium at rates between 1 to 2 pmole/10(6) cells/3 hours. The rate of secretion was not, however, related to cellular-levels of thioredoxin. The results of the study show that the expression of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase are increased several fold in some human solid tumors compared to normal tissue. Secretion of thioredoxin, which is known to have a direct growth stimulating activity, by human tumor cells might lead to the stimulation of cancer cell growth.

Cell Hypoxia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cellular thioredoxin reductase activity is regulated by selenium.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and has been reported to decrease the incidence of some human cancers. We have investigated the effects of Se on thioredoxin reductase, a selenocysteine containing flavoenzyme, in HT-29 human colon cancer cells grown in serum-free medium. Sodium selenite and other Se containing compounds produced a time and concentration dependent increase in intracellular thioredoxin reductase activity and protein levels. Selenite was the most active of the Se compounds examined: 1 microM selenite produced a 28-fold increase in thioredoxin reductase activity by 1 day and 10 microM selenite over a 60-fold increase by 5 days. The activity of a related non-selenocysteine containing flavoenzyme glutathione reductase was not increased by selenite. Selenite, but not the other Se containing compounds inhibited cell growth at concentrations above 2 microM. The results show that Se can produce large increases in cell thioredoxin reductase activity.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diaryl chalcogenides as selective inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase and potential antitumor agents.

Thioredoxin reductase is a selenocysteine containing flavoenzyme that catalyzes the NADPH dependent reduction of the redox protein thioredoxin. Thioredoxin is over-expressed by a number of human tumors. Experimental studies have shown that thioredoxin is responsible for the growth and transformed phenotype of some human cancer cells. Thus, thioredoxin reductase presents an attractive target for anticancer drug development to regulate the activity of the thioredoxin system. We have examined a series of 12 organoselenium compounds and 16 organotellurium compounds, mostly of the diaryl chalcogenide type, as inhibitors of human thioredoxin reductase and have investigated the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of some of the compounds. The organoselenium compound Ebselen was found to be a competitive inhibitor of human thioredoxin reductase (Ki 2.8 microM), while a number of organotellurium compounds were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors (Kis 2.3 to 35.2 microM). Human glutathione reductase was not appreciably inhibited by any of the compounds, except for one dinitro organotellurium compound that caused inhibition with an IC50 of 0.5 microM and an over 20-fold selectivity compared to thioredoxin reductase. The compounds inhibited the growth of human cancer cells in culture with IC50s as low as 2 microM Some organotellurium compounds when administered daily by intraperitoneal injection to mice caused up to 50% inhibition of the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer xenografts but the relative insolubility of the compounds was a limiting factor in their use.

Animals↗