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Biomedical subjects

H Arima

Publications and source records attributed to H Arima.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Determination of stability constant of beta-cyclodextrin complexes using the membrane permeation technique and the permeation behavior of drug-competing agent-beta-cyclodextrin ternary systems.

The stability constants (Kc) of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) complexes with phenacetin and various benzoic acids were determined using the membrane permeation technique using a cellophane membrane permeable for guest molecules which was impermeable for beta-CyD molecules. The permeation rate equations of guests in the presence of beta-CyD in the donor phase were derived and the permeation profiles were analyzed as a function of time to determine the Kc values. The Kc values determined using the membrane permeation technique were in close agreement with those determined by the conventional kinetic method and the solubility method. The membrane permeation technique is of greater advantage than the conventional methods, because in the former method the stability constant can be obtained from only one experimental run by analyzing the permeation data as a function of time. In the latter method, on the other hand, some property changes have to be measured at various CyD concentrations and in turn analyzed as a function of CyD concentration. The permeation profiles of phenacetin of the drug-competing agent-beta-CyD ternary system were estimated by using the stability constants and the experimental curves closely matched the theoretically derived ones.

Algorithms↗

Heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-acetyl)-beta-cyclodextrin: A water-soluble cyclodextrin derivative with low hemolytic activity.

Acetyl groups were introduced to the hydroxyl groups of heptakis(2, 6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD), and the resulting heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-acetyl)-beta-CyD (DMA-beta-CyD) was evaluated for the inclusion property and hemolytic activity. It was confirmed by means of NMR and mass spectroscopies that in the DMA-beta-CyD molecule, all seven hydroxyl groups at the 3-position were substituted by acetyl groups. Thus, it has the degree of substitution (DS) of 7, whereas DMA4-beta-CyD with the lower substitution (DS 3.8) was a mixture of components with different DS. The aqueous solubility of DMA-beta-CyD was higher than those of beta-CyD, DM-beta-CyD, and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-CyD (TM-beta-CyD). The hydrophobicity of the whole molecule, assessed from measurements of surface tension, increased in the order of DM-beta-CyD < DMA-beta-CyD < TM-beta-CyD. The half-life of DMA-beta-CyD for hydrolysis in pH 9.5 and 60 degrees C was about 19 h, and there was only slight liberation of acetic acid in rabbit plasma and carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) at 37 degrees C. DMA-beta-CyD had an inclusion ability similar to that of TM-beta-CyD for p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters with different alkyl chain lengths and an antiinflammatory drug, flurbiprofen, although it was inferior to that of DM-beta-CyD. The hemolytic activity and rabbit muscular irritation of DMA-beta-CyDs were much weaker than those of DM-beta-CyD: no hemolysis was observed even in the presence of 0.1 M DMA-beta-CyD with DS 7. The results suggest that the water-soluble CyD derivative with superior bioadaptability and inclusion ability can be prepared by properly designing substituents at the 3-position and by optimally controlling their degree of substitution.

Animals↗

Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study on amorphous solid complexes of tolbutamide with 2-hydroxypropyl-alpha- and -beta-cyclodextrins.

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to obtain structural information of inclusion complexes of tolbutamide with HP-alpha- and -beta-cyclodextrins in amorphous state. METHOD: The solid complexes of tolbutamide with HP-alpha- and -beta-CyDs in molar ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 (guest:host) were prepared by the spray-drying method, and their interactions were investigated by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. RESULTS: The solid 1:1 and 1:2 tolbutamide/HP-CyD complexes showed halo pattern on the powder X-ray diffractogram and no thermal change in DSC curves, indicating they are in an amorphous state. 13C NMR signals of the butyl moiety were broader than those of the phenyl moiety in the HP-alpha-CyD solid complex, whereas the phenyl moiety showed significantly broader signals than the butyl moiety in the HP-beta-CyD solid complex. As temperature increased, signals of the phenyl carbons became markedly sharper, whereas the butyl carbons only sharpen slightly in the HP-d-CyD complex. In contrast, signals of the butyl carbons became significantly sharper whereas those of phenyl carbons only slightly changed in the HP-beta-CyD complex. CONCLUSIONS: Solid state 13C NMR spectroscopic studies indicated that the butyl moiety of tolbutamide is predominantly included in the HP-alpha-CyD cavity, whereas the phenyl moiety in the HP-beta-CyD cavity in amorphous complexes.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

Design of potent phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides directed to human interleukin 10 gene product and their evaluation of antisense activity in U937 cells.

PURPOSE: The two objectives of this study were to design potent phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (AS-S-oligos) directed against the human interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene product and to reveal the DNA sequence which best activates antisense effects. METHODS: The design of potent AS-S-oligo was performed by using melting temperature (Tm) value of a DNA/RNA hybrid calculated by the nearest neighbor method and a secondary structure of human IL-10 mRNA suggested by RNA folding algorithms. U937 cells were used to estimate the antisense effect of the AS-S-oligos. RESULTS: Of the eight candidates selected as potent AS-S-oligos on the basis of having higher Tm values and favorable secondary structures of the IL-10 mRNA, AS-S-oligos directed against the translated (AS367-S-oligo) and 3'-untranslated (AS637-S-oligo) region of IL-10 mRNA showed the strongest inhibitory effects on IL-10 production and this inhibition was dose- and time-dependent. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that the antisense effects of AS-S-oligos originated from a specific reduction of target IL-10 mRNA by hybridization with AS367- and AS637-S-oligos. In addition, these AS-S-oligos did not affect human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in the cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Strong positive correlations between the inhibitory effect of AS-S-oligos on the IL-10 production and not only Tm values calculated by nearest neighbor method but also Tm values determined by absorbance versus temperature profiles were demonstrated except for AS25-S-oligo and AS1249-S-oligo. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest AS367- and AS637-S-oligos powerfully inhibit IL-10 production in U937 cells via an antisense mechanism. In addition, it is suggested efficiency of AS-S-oligo directed against the sequence of the target gene product can be explained by these Tm values and the proposed secondary structures of the target gene product.

Drug Design↗

Rapid and sensitive vasopressin heteronuclear RNA responses to changes in plasma osmolality.

The plasma concentration of arginine vasopressin (AVP) is closely regulated by plasma osmolality. In this study, we used intronic in-situ hybridization to investigate the transcriptional activity of the AVP gene in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of hypertonic saline inducing small changes in plasma osmolality in rats. After ip injection of 900 mOsm/kg saline (2% BW), plasma [Na] reached the highest level at 10 min (900 mOsm/kg, 146+/-1 mEq/l; 290 mOsm/kg, 139+/-1 mEq/l, P<0.01) and maintained that level until 30 min. The expression of AVP heteronuclear (hn) RNA in the SON and PVN increased significantly as early as 10 min and peaked 30 min after ip injection of the hypertonic saline. AVP hnRNA expression showed a significant increase even after a 2 mEq/L elevation in plasma [Na] concentration, and increased dose-dependently in response to the concentration of saline injection (290-900 mOsm/kg). These results demonstrate that, similar to AVP secretion, AVP gene transcriptional activity in the SON and PVN is closely regulated by plasma osmolality.

Animals↗

Enhanced absorption of cyclosporin A by complexation with dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin in bile duct-cannulated and -noncannulated rats.

The enhancing effects of dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD) on the absorption of cyclosporin A (CsA) after oral administration to rats under bile duct-cannulated and -noncannulated conditions were investigated. The dissolution rate of CsA was markedly augmented by complexation with DM-beta-CyD. In a closed loop in situ study, DM-beta-CyD considerably increased the cumulative amounts of CsA in the mesenteric venous blood after injection of the aqueous CsA suspension into the small intestinal sac of rats. In addition, the cumulative amount ratio of M1, the dominant metabolite of CsA in rats, to CsA in the mesenteric venous blood for up to 40 min after the injection of the CsA-DM-beta-CyD suspension into the sac was lower than that of the CsA suspension alone. DM-beta-CyD inhibited the bioconversion of CsA in the small intestinal microsomes of rats. These results indicate that the bioconversion of CsA was abated by complexation with DM-beta-CyD. An in vivo study revealed that DM-beta-CyD increased the transfer of CsA to blood, not lymph, with low variability in the absorption after oral administration of the CsA suspension to rats. The variability of bioavailability of DM-beta-CyD complex was lower than that of Sandimmune, although the extent of bioavailability of DM-beta-CyD was only a little higher than that of Sandimmune. The bioavailability of CsA or its DM-beta-CyD complex was appreciably decreased by the cannulation of the bile duct of rats, and the extent of the lowering in the bioavailability in the presence of DM-beta-CyD was much less serious than that of CsA alone. The present results suggest that DM-beta-CyD is particularly useful in designing oral preparations of CsA with an enhanced bioavailability and a reduced variability in absorption.

Administration, Oral↗

Dynamic SPECT evaluation of renal plasma flow using technetium-99m MAG3 in kidney transplant patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Patlak's graphic analysis method to determine renal plasma flow (RPF) in kidney transplants. METHODS: Dynamic SPECT was performed with 99mTc MAG3 in 12 patients. RPF was determined by both Patlak's graphic analysis method and Russell's method. Ventral, central and dorsal tomographic images of the transplanted kidney were reconstructed to estimate intrarenal distribution of renal plasma flow. RESULTS: The renal influx constant (Ku) calculated by Patlak's graphic analysis method was reproducible and correlated with both serum creatinine (r = -0.88, P < 0.001) and blood urea nitorogen levels (r = -0.82, P < 0.002). However, a significant difference was noted between the RPF values derived from Patlak's graphic analysis method and Russell's method. Ku was corrected by a factor calculated from raw and reconstructed data, and the resulting values were in fair agreement with those determined by Russell's method. CONCLUSION: These methods are useful in evaluating the function of transplanted kidneys.

Adult↗

Macrosialin may not be involved with the regulation of nitric oxide production from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS.

We reported previously that nitric oxide (NO) production from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS was inhibited by negatively charged liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine (PS-liposomes) or oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) which have an affinity for scavenger receptors (SRs). In this study, to clarify whether macrosialin, an SR, participates in the inhibitory effects of PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL on NO production, the effects of anti-macrosialin monoclonal antibody (FA/11) on inhibition of NO production by PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL were investigated. FA/11 itself showed no effect on NO production induced by LPS. Binding of FA/11 to macrophages was inhibited by the addition of PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL, indicating that PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL have an affinity for macrosialin. However, the inhibitory effects of these ligands on NO production were not reduced in the presence of FA/11. These findings suggest that macrosialin does not contribute to the inhibitory effects of PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL on NO production from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS.

Animals↗

Enhanced secretion of hydrophobic peptide fused lysozyme by the introduction of N-glycosylation signal and the disruption of calnexin gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The insertion of a hydrophobic pentapeptide (Phe-Phe-Val-Ala-Pro) into the C-terminus in hen egg white lysozyme by genetic modification resulted in an unstable structure which caused little secretion in a yeast expression system, although this modification is useful to enhance bactericidal action to gram-negative bacteria [Ibrahim et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 5059-5063]. To enhance the secretion of the unstable hydrophobic pentapeptide fused lysozymes (H5-Lz), we attempted to introduce the signal sequence (Asn-X-Ser/Thr) of N-linked glycosylation into lysozyme and to suppress the quality control of the unstable mutant in the yeast expression system. The polymannosyl hydrophobic fused lysozyme (H5/G49N-Lz) having the N-glycosylation signal sequence was expressed in the medium at 3.4 times that of unglycosylated lysozyme. Further, the secretion of the unstable mutant lysozyme was done in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae disrupted calnexin gene to avoid the degradation of the unstable mutant by the quality control. Although disruption of the calnexin gene did not lead to gross effects on the levels of growth of S. cerevisiae (W303-1b), the secretion amount of H5/G49N-Lz in calnexin disrupted S. cerevisiae was 2.5 times larger than that in wild type S. cerevisiae. These results suggest that the secretion of unstable glycosylated lysozyme (H5/G49N) was suppressed by the quality control function of calnexin and that the disruption of calnexin is effective to increase the secretion of unstable glycosylated protein.

Animals↗

Central administration of urocortin inhibits vasopressin release in conscious rats.

Urocortin (UCN) is a new mammalian member of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) family and supposed to be an endogenous ligand for type 2 CRF receptors. Previous studies have revealed that UCN mRNA exists in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), and that water deprivation increases UCN immunoreactivity in SON. In this study, we examined the effect of centrally-administered UCN on arginine vasopressin (AVP) release in conscious rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of UCN (5.0 microg/rat) significantly attenuated AVP release induced by hyperosmolality at 30 min after the injection. In contrast, CRF (5.0 microg/rat) injected i.c.v. had no significant effect on AVP release. These results suggest that central UCN play an inhibitory role in osmoregulation of AVP release.

Animals↗

Contribution of CR3 to nitric oxide production from macrophages stimulated with high-dose of LPS.

The contribution of the complement receptor type 3 (CR3) to nitric oxide (NO) production from macrophages stimulated by LPS was investigated. When thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with a high dose of LPS (10 micrograms/ml) in both the presence and absence of fetal calf serum, a source of LPS binding protein (LBP) necessary for the binding of LPS to CD14, NO production was observed. These findings suggest that CD14-dependent and CD14-independent signaling pathways for NO production are present in macrophages. Because binding and phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages through the CR3 has been previously reported, we investigated whether the CR3 acts in CD14-independent signaling pathway for NO production. By flow cytometric analysis, the binding of FITC-labeled anti-CR3 monoclonal antibody (anti-CR3 mAb) to macrophages was inhibited by LPS. Anti-CR3 mAb induced iNOS protein and produced NO in a dose dependent manner. Further, NO production induced by anti-CR3 mAb was also inhibited by zymocel, beta-glucan with a high affinity to CR3. These results suggest that the CR3 molecule acts in a CD14-independent signaling pathway, and contributes to NO production by macrophages stimulated with high doses of LPS.

Animals↗

Age-associated decrease in response of rat aquaporin-2 gene expression to dehydration.

It is well known that urine-concentrating ability decreases with aging and that this decreasing ability results from a reduced sensitivity of the renal collecting duct to arginine vasopressin (AVP). AVP regulates the water channel (aquaporin-2:AQP2) through V2 receptors and increases the water permeability of the collecting duct. To elucidate the mechanism of change with aging in urine-concentrating ability, we investigated the change of V2 receptor and AQP2 mRNA expression in young (8-week-old) and older (7-month-old) rats after dehydration for 2 days. After dehydration, plasma AVP levels in older rats were higher than young rats, and urinary osmolality in older rats was lower than young rats. By Northern blot analysis, there was no significant difference between young and older rats in both V2 receptor and AQP2 mRNA expression before dehydration. After dehydration, V2 receptor mRNA expression in young and older rats decreased in the same degree, suggesting the downregulation of V2 receptors may occur in the mRNA level. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry showed that AQP2 mRNA expression increased and the increased expression in older rats was less than in young rats. The present study suggests the reduced response of AQP2 mRNA expression to dehydration, observed in 7-month-old rats, might be partially responsible for the decreasing urine-concentrating ability with aging.

Aging↗

Antiserum against neuropeptide FF augments vasopressin release in conscious rats.

We previously reported that centrally administered neuropeptide FF (NPFF) inhibited arginine vasopressin (AVP) release. In this study, immunoneutralization of central NPFF was performed to evaluate the role of endogenous NPFF in the regulation of AVP release. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of antiserum against NPFF (Anti-NPFF) significantly augmented the plasma AVP increase induced by hyperosmolality [intraperitoneal injection of hypertonic saline (600 mOsm/kg, 2% BW)] at 60 min after ICV injection compared with normal rabbit serum (NRS) (NRS: 4.20+/-0.30 pg/ml, Anti-NPFF: 5.83+/-0.46 pg/ml, p < 0.01). Anti-NPFF did not cause significant change in plasma osmolality, plasma volume or arterial blood pressure. This evidence indicates that endogenous NPFF might be physiologically involved in osmoregulation of the plasma AVP level through its inhibitory action.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhancing effect of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin on cutaneous penetration and activation of ethyl 4-biphenylyl acetate in hairless mouse skin.

The effect of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD) on the cutaneous penetration and activation of ethyl 4-biphenylyl acetate (EBA), a prodrug of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug 4-biphenylylacetic acid (BPAA), from hydrophilic ointment was investigated, using hairless mouse skin in vitro. When the hydrophilic ointment containing a complex of EBA with HP-beta-CyD was applied to the full-thickness skin, HP-beta-CyD facilitated the penetration of EBA into the skin, the conversion of EBA to BPAA in the epidermis and the transfer of BPAA to the receptor phase. Under the present condition, pre- and post-application of the ointment containing HP-beta-CyD onto the skin did not affect the cutaneous penetration of EBA and its activation. When the ointment containing the EBA:HP-beta-CyD complex was applied to the skin, the flux of BPAA through the tape-stripped skin was greater than that through the full-thickness skin, while the activation of the prodrug in the skin was slowed down by the tape-stripping. When propylene glycol was used as a vehicle, HP-beta-CyD no longer enhanced the cutaneous permeation of BPAA through the full-thickness skin. These results suggest that the enhancing effect of HP-beta-CyD on the cutaneous penetration of EBA would be ascribable largely to an increase in effective concentration of EBA in the ointment. Furthermore, the slow diffusion of EBA solubilized in HP-beta-CyD through the stratum corneum, together with the vehicle effect, could make the prodrug more susceptible to the metabolic process that is active in the epidermis, eventually leading to the facilitated activation of the prodrug.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

Anorectic effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in rats: lack of evidence for involvement of hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression.

We investigated the effect of centrally administered pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) on feeding in rats, and the involvement of hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression using in situ hybridization. Intracerebroventricular injection of PACAP (1000 pmol/rat) significantly decreased food intake in a dose-dependent manner. In PACAP-treated rats, neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus and galanin mRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus increased, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus decreased. In rats fasted for 72 h, NPY mRNA levels increased, and CRH mRNA levels decreased, but galanin mRNA levels were unchanged. These results indicate that the anorectic function of PACAP is not mediated by NPY or CRH, and that PACAP increases galanin synthesis.

Animals↗

Specific inhibition of interleukin-10 production in murine macrophage-like cells by phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides.

The effects of phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (AS-S-oligos) directed against murine interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA on IL-10 production in RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage-like cell line, when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined. Of the six AS-S-oligos used, AS-S-oligos directed against the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of IL-10 mRNA (AS6-S-oligo) showed the strongest inhibitory effect on IL-10 production, and this inhibition was dose and time dependent. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that the antisense effect originated from a specific reduction of target IL-10 mRNA by hybridization with AS6-S-oligo. In addition, AS6-S-oligo did not affect tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in cells stimulated by LPS, and S-oligos with control sequences did not affect IL-10 production. These findings suggested that AS6-S-oligo most powerfully inhibited IL-10 production in macrophages by an antisense mechanism.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Regulation of vasopressin synthesis and release by area postrema in rats.

There is evidence indicating that the area postrema (AP), the most caudal circumventricular organ located on the dorsal surface of the medulla, is involved in several physiological regulations. In this study, we investigated the role of AP in the regulation of arginine vasopressin (AVP) synthesis and release, using rats of which the AP was lesioned 6 weeks previously. The level of plasma AVP in the AP lesioned (APX) group was significantly lower than in the sham operated (Sham) group in the basal state. AVP release induced by either hyperosmolality or hypovolemia was significantly attenuated by APX. To clarify the role of AP in AVP synthesis in the hypothalamus, we examined the AVP gene expression using in situ hybridization. AVP messenger RNA levels in paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) in the APX group were significantly lower than in the Sham group in the basal state. Moreover, the AVP messenger RNA levels in PVN and SON in the APX group were also significantly lower than in the Sham group after water deprivation for 3 days. These results suggest that AVP synthesis and release are tonically stimulated by AP in the basal state and that AVP synthesis and release in stimulated states are also regulated, at least partially, by AP.

Animals↗

Bactericidal action of lysozymes attached with various sizes of hydrophobic peptides to the C-terminal using genetic modification.

The genetic modification of lysozyme was attempted to improve the bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli. The different lengths of hydrophobic peptides were attached to the C-terminus of the hen egg white lysozyme to investigate the most effective length of the hydrophobic peptides for killing bacteria. The oligonucleotides encoding Phe-Val-Pro (H3), Phe-Phe-Val-Ala-Pro (H5) and Phe-Phe-Val-Ala-Ile-Ile-Pro (H7) were fused to the C-terminus Leu 129 of lysozyme cDNA. The reconstructed cDNAs were inserted into the yeast expression vector. The hydrophobic peptide-fused lysozymes were secreted in the yeast carrying the reconstructed cDNA. Although the hydrophobic peptide-fused lysozymes retained 75 80% lytic activity of the wild-type protein, the bactericidal action to E. coli was greatly increased with the length of hydrophobic peptides. These results suggest that the hydrophobic peptides play an important role in killing Gram-negative bacteria. To elucidate the role of catalytic domain in bactericidal action of the hydrophobic fusion lysozyme (H5-Lz), the mutant hydrophobic lysozyme (H5/E35A-Lz) whose glutamic acid was substituted with alanine at the position 35 was constructed to diminish the catalytic activity. The mutant hydrophobic lysozyme (H5/E35A-Lz) was greatly lost the bactericidal action to E. coli, suggesting that not only the length of hydrophobic peptide fused to C-terminus but also the catalytic domain is important for the bactericidal action of the hydrophobic peptide-fused lysozyme.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗