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Biomedical subjects

G Siest

Publications and source records attributed to G Siest.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

NADPH:cytochrome P-450(c) reductase: biochemical characterization in rat brain and cultured neurons and evolution of activity during development.

NADPH:cytochrome P-450 (c) reductase is a microsomal enzyme which is involved in the cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation of many exogenous agents as well as of some endogenous molecules. Using cytochrome c as a substrate, the kinetic parameters of this enzyme were determined in brain microsomes. The comparison of the NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase's Vmax values and cytochrome P-450 contents in both fractions, suggests a role of cerebral NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase in cytochrome P-450 independent pathways. This is also supported by the different developmental pattern of brain enzyme as compared to the liver enzyme, and by the presence of a relatively high NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase activity in immature rat brain and neuronal cultures, while cytochrome P-450 was hardly detectable in these preparations. The enzyme activity was not induced by a phenobarbital chronic treatment neither in the adult brain nor in cultured neurons, suggesting a different regulation of the brain enzyme expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparative induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes by hypolipidaemic compounds.

1. The inducing effect of hypolipidaemic compounds containing arylcarboxylic structure (fenofibrate, bezafibrate, ciprofibrate) on drug-metabolizing enzymes was compared with that of other chemically different molecules (probucol, 1-benzylimidazole) in rat liver. 2. Hepatomegaly was closely associated to the decrease in triglycerides and cholesterol contents in plasma. 3. Lauric acid hydroxylation and hydratation of trans-stilbene oxide by the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase were markedly increased by the arylcarboxylic acids (fenofibrate, bezafibrate and ciprofibrate). The determination of the concentration in microsomal epoxide hydrolase by immunoassay revealed no change in the protein amount within the membrane; only the specific activity was enhanced by bezafibrate and 1-benzylimidazole, suggesting an activation process. 4. Bilirubin glucuronidation was increased by the arylcarboxylic structures and by 1-benzylimidazole; by contrast probucol decreased this activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Induction of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes by 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide.

1. 1-(2-Chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide (RP 52028), an antagonist of peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites, a potential anticonvulsant, has been shown to have an inducing effect on drug-metabolizing enzymes. 2. RP 52028 was administered orally at 20-800 mg/kg for 1 week, and enzymic activities were determined using a panel of substrates. Western blot analyses were performed using several specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against cytochrome P-450 isozymes. 3. RP 52028 appears to be an inducer of cytochrome P-450 II B1 (P-450b) and related enzymic activities; i.e. benzphetamine, ethylmorphine and aminopyrine demethylation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serum mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase activity: not useful as a marker of excessive alcohol consumption in an unselected population.

Using an immunochemical method, we measured the activity of the mitochondrial isoenzyme (mAST) of aspartate amino-transferase (EC 2.6.1.1, AST) in the serum of 687 subjects attending the Centre for Preventive Medicine for a health examination. The distributions of the activities were asymmetrical, with mean values of 1.8 U/L (SD 2.0) for men and 1.4 U/L (SD 1.6) for women. The average ratio of mitochondrial to total AST activity was 0.051 (range 0-0.42). In this unselected population we found no change in the mitochondrial activity or in the mitochondrial-to-total ratio attributable to alcohol consumption, even in subjects who consumed more than 88 g per day. Of 35 men with an alcohol consumption greater than 88 g/d, 19 had a serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity of greater than or equal to 60 U/L, 17 had glutamate dehydrogenase values greater than or equal to 5 U/L, and only nine had an mAST activity greater than or equal to 3 U/L (values corresponding to the 80th percentiles of the total population). We conclude that the test is not particularly useful as a screening procedure in an unselected population under present-day conditions of measurement.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

An analysis of genotype effects and their interactions by using the apolipoprotein E polymorphism and longitudinal data.

We investigate the interaction between the apolipoprotein E polymorphism and changes in weight and height as they affect the longitudinal profile of total cholesterol, triglyceride, beta lipoprotein, and glucose levels. Data were available on a sample of 466 individuals in 158 nuclear families from Nancy, France. Longitudinal data analyses were carried out on 128 unrelated adults and 56 unrelated children. We estimate the relative frequencies of the epsilon 2, epsilon 3, and epsilon 4 apolipoprotein E alleles in this population to be .120, .764, and .116, respectively. There is no significant evidence from these data that supports an effect of the apolipoprotein E polymorphism on the longitudinal profile of any of the variables considered. There is a significant interaction between the effects of this gene and weight change on the longitudinal change of serum triglyceride and beta lipoprotein levels in adults. In conjunction with weight gain, individuals with an epsilon 4 allele are expected to show a larger increase in triglyceride levels (0.15 +/- 0.03 mmol/L/kg) compared with individuals with no epsilon 4 allele. An increased production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) as one gains weight, along with retarded VLDL clearance attributable to the effects of the epsilon 4 allele, may account for this results. The significant interaction between the apolipoprotein E polymorphism and changes in weight on the longitudinal change in triglyceride levels corroborates epidemiological studies reporting that the epsilon 4 allele increases the risk of hypertriglyceridemia among obese individuals.

Apolipoproteins E↗
PubMed1988

Effect of 1-benzylimidazole on cytochromes P-450 induction and on the activities of epoxide hydrolases and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in rat liver.

The influence of 1-benzylimidazole on the activities of hepatic monooxygenases cytochromes P-450 dependent, epoxide hydrolases and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases was investigated in male Wistar rats. Several doses (25, 75 and 100 mg/kg/day) were administered gastrically during 5 days in order to evaluate the dose-related induction. The treatment caused a dose-dependent hepatomegaly. 1-Benzylimidazole decreased the plasma level in triglycerides by 60-70%; by contrast the cholesterol content was not changed during the time course of the experiment. Lauric acid hydroxylase, benzphentamine N-demethylase, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activities were increased 3.5-, 4-, 13- and 46-fold, respectively with the highest dose. By immunoblotting, an enhancement in the protein bands corresponding to cytochromes P-450c and P-450b could be simultaneously observed, whatever the dose administered, thus suggesting an induction process. However, 1-benzylimidazole failed to bind with high affinity to the cytosolic Ah receptor. On the other hand, measurement of the activity of the microsomal epoxide hydrolase with benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide as substrate and quantitation of the enzyme protein by immunoassay revealed that the increase in the activity after treatment with the compound was the result of enzyme activation only. By contrast, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase was not affected by 1-benzylimidazole. This compound also stimulated three distinct forms of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. The activities towards 4-methylumbelliferone, 1-naphthol, morphine or a monoterpenoid alcohol, nopol, supported by two different isozymes were significantly increased only with the highest dose; meanwhile bilirubin glucuronidation was 2-fold enhanced, whatever the dose used. These observations emphasize the variety of the effects of 1-benzylimidazole on drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Monoclonal antibodies to human kidney gamma-glutamyltransferase.

Eight hybridoma clones secreting large amounts of monoclonal antibodies against purified human kidney gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were isolated and produced in ascites. None of them inhibits the catalytic activity of GGT. They all bind to the heavy subunit of this dimeric enzyme. Immunoblot analysis showed that these antibodies react with the catalytically active GGT. The monoclonal antibodies also recognize the heavy subunit of the human liver enzyme. This is of interest, as serum GGT is known to originate from the liver. None of the monoclonals reacts with GGTs from rat or pig kidney. After identification of epitopes specificities, the antibodies will be used for the development of immunoassays of GGT especially in human serum.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

gamma-Glutamyltransferase reference material: an example of international cooperation.

The different steps in the preparation of a certified reference material for gamma-glutamyltransferase are described. A preparation of pig kidney gamma-glutamyltransferase, partly hydrolyzed with papain, was prepared and lyophilized in a matrix containing bovine serum albumin. The between-ampoule variability of gamma-glutamyltransferase was estimated to be 0.6%. The predicted degradation at -20 degrees C is 0.00% per year. The certification procedure involved 15 participating laboratories. The certified gamma-glutamyltransferase catalytic concentration of the reconstituted material, using the IFCC proposed method, is 86.8 U/1 with a 0.95 confidence interval of +/- 2.1 U/1.

European Union↗
PubMed1988

A new aspect of the protective functions of the blood-brain barrier: activities of four drug-metabolizing enzymes in isolated rat brain microvessels.

The multiple functions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) consist mostly in membrane properties controlling the bidirectional exchange of molecules between the general circulation and the central nervous system. As lipophilic molecules are able to easily penetrate the membrane of brain microvessels endothelial cells, an Achilles' heel exists in the brain's protective system. We measured the activities of some enzymes involved in the metabolism of lipophilic xenobiotics, i.e. cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenases, epoxide hydrolase, NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase and 1-naphthol UDP-glucuronosyl transferase in isolated rat brain microvessels. The relatively high activities observed indicate the capacity of endothelial cells to metabolize xenobiotics, and, thus, to give an additional protection to the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Human aminopeptidases: a review of the literature.

The aminopeptidases constitute a group of enzymes with closely related activities. In clinical chemistry the analysis of the aminopeptidases and of their multiple forms in serum has for a long time been hindered by considerable confusion concerning their identification, and by a lack of characterization. This is in part due to the often large, and sometimes overlapping substrate specificities of the aminopeptidases. This paper reviews the biochemical properties of the different aminopeptidases, the specificities of the assays used for their analysis in serum, some aspects of their multiple forms--which are especially known to occur for alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2)--and the importance of the determination of aminopeptidases and their multiple forms in clinical chemistry.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1988

Induction of plasma and tissue enzymes by drugs: significance in toxicological studies.

1. Observations of drug metabolism enzyme induction in animals during early toxicological trials, and phase I or II of clinical trials, are of importance for the development of a new chemical of pharmacological interest. 2. Induction can be detected by determination of enzyme activities or enzyme proteins in tissues (subcellular fractions or cells in culture). 3. Indirect methods for checking induction can involve determinations of endogenous (i.e. glucaric acid, 6-beta-hydroxycortisol) or xenobiotic (antipyrine) metabolites which are produced by the inducible enzyme systems. 4. Recent progress in the knowledge of biochemical mechanisms of induction and the large number of identified isoenzymes in each enzyme 'family' have complicated the interpretation in pharmaco-toxicological studies. 5. This paper describes the present state of the art concerning the relationships between the isoenzymes and the major classes of inducers concerning cytochromes P-450, UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, gamma-glutamyltransferase and epoxide hydrolases.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Alanine aminopeptidase in serum: biological variations and reference limits.

We studied the effect of various factors on the biological variation of alanine aminopeptidase (AAP, EC 3.4.11.2) in serum in a population of 2178 apparently healthy subjects and in subjects taking specific drugs. To measure AAP, we used an automated assay, with alanyl-4-nitroanilide as substrate. AAP activity concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females in all age groups between 10 and 55 years. The highest mean AAP values were found for children between 10 and 14 years. In male heavy smokers, AAP values were 8% higher than in moderate or nonsmokers (P less than 0.001); in females, this effect was less pronounced. AAP concentrations were higher in subjects consuming over 44 g of ethanol a day than in those consuming less (P less than 0.01 for men, P less than 0.05 for women). The use of oral contraceptives increased AAP values by 12% (P less than 0.001). Hypolipidemic drugs caused lower values for AAP in men (P less than 0.001). Subjects showing induction of gamma-glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2) by anticonvulsant drugs had also higher AAP activities (by 23%). Taking these data into account, we established reference limits for AAP in serum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Hydroxylation of debrisoquine using perfused liver isolated from Sprague Dawley and DA rats: comparison with in-vivo results.

The hydroxylation of debrisoquine was investigated in Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Dark-Agouti (DA) rats. Female and male rats were phenotyped in-vivo with debrisoquine six times during their growth. The ratios debrisoquine/4-hydroxydebrisoquine of the female DA rats increased until the 15th week and then decreased; but the values of the metabolic ratios never exceeded 2. Female DA rats cannot be considered as genetically deficient for hydroxylation of debrisoquine in regard to the metabolic ratio, but the percentage of debrisoquine excretion is up to ten fold higher than that in the other strains. Therefore SD and DA rat livers were perfused for 2 h when the clearance of debrisoquine was significantly lower in the female DA group than in the other groups. 4-Hydroxydebrisoquine in the perfusate increased with time, but the amount after 120 min was 12 fold lower in the female DA rat group than in the female SD rat group. The results of the male DA group fell between. This study confirms that female DA rats present a lower debrisoquine 4-hydroxylating capacity than other rats but shows that urinary metabolic ratio is not sufficient to assess the deficiency of debrisoquine hydroxylation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Ingestion of soybean epoxide oil. Effects on monooxygenases, epoxide hydrolase and activities of UDP glucuronosyltransferases in hepatic microsomes of the rat].

The effect of peroxidized soybean oil in the diet of male Wistar rats was studied on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and their phenobarbital induction and compared to that of natural soybean diet in the same conditions. No hepatomegaly or increase in serum transaminases occurred, however growth was inhibited after ingestion of peroxidized soybean oil. In addition, the protein biosynthesis of epoxide hydrase determined by immunochemistry was largely stimulated by this treatment; but the corresponding activity measured with benzo(a)pyrene 4-5 oxide as a substrate was increased in weaker proportions. This induction was limited to epoxide hydrolase only, since the enzymes of phase one were not affected and UDP glucuronosyltransferase activities toward group I substrates were randomly activated. The induction of epoxide hydrolase may affect only one or several isoforms of the membrane enzyme which are not necessarily specific to benzo(a)pyrene 4-5 oxide activity determination of the enzyme.

Animals↗