Biomedical subjects

K Nishio

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishio.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Mechanisms of collateral sensitivity to fluorouracil of a cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-resistant human non-small lung cancer cell line.

A cisplatin(CDDP)-resistant subline of a human lung cancer cell line, PC-7/CDDP, was 4.7-fold more resistant to CDDP than the parent line in a colony-forming assay. The sensitivity of this cell line to anthracyclines, vinca-alkaloid, etoposide, mitomycin C, and bleomycin was similar to that of the parental line, PC-7. However, PC-7/CDDP exhibited 4-fold higher sensitivity to fluorouracil (FUra). Possible mechanisms associated with the collateral sensitivity to FUra were studied in PC-7/CDDP cells. The sensitivity of both cell lines to FUra did not correlate with the effect of FUra on RNA. On the other hand, FUra induced a greater reduction in dTTP pools and more single strand breaks in PC-7/CDDP than in PC-7 cells. These results suggest that the pathway for de novo deoxyribonucleotide synthesis may be a target for FUra in PC-7/CDDP cells. However, inhibition of thymidylate synthase after FUra treatment did not correlate with the DNA-directed activity of FUra. Based on the above findings, the decreased salvage synthesis of dTTP was considered a possible mechanism of the greater reduction of dTTP pools in PC-7/CDDP cells. However, the activity of dThd kinase was the same in both cell lines. In the presence of physiological concentrations of exogenous dThd in the serum, uptake of dThd was less in PC-7/CDDP cells than that in PC-7 cells. Our data suggest that FUra-induced cytotoxicity in PC-7/CDDP cells is associated with the inhibition of dTTP synthesis and that the decreased uptake of dThd is a possible mechanism of the collateral sensitivity to FUra in PC-7/CDDP cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Alteration of type II regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in human cisplatin-resistant cells as a basis of collateral sensitivity to 8-chloro-cAMP.

A cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) analogue, 8-chloro-cAMP (8-Cl-cAMP), had a collateral growth-inhibitory effect on a cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP)-resistant human cancer cell lines (PC-14/CDDP). The non-selective analogues dibutyryl-cAMP, 8-bromo-cAMP and forskolin, which are cAMP agonists, showed far less cytotoxicity than 8-Cl-cAMP in both cell lines. There was no significant difference in cAMP content between PC-14 and PC-14/CDDP. Because 8-Cl-cAMP has been shown to bind selectively to the site I receptor of the type II regulatory subunit (RII) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, we determined the level of expression of regulatory subunits in PC-14 and PC-14/CDDP cells by photoaffinity labeling. PC-14/CDDP cells had a higher RII level, low site I receptor of type I regulatory subunit (RI) level, and a lower RI/RII ratio than the parental PC-14 cells. Exposure to 8-Cl-cAMP increased the RI and RII level in PC-14/CDDP cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. On the other hand, in parental PC-14 cells, RII was not detected and the levels of RI and RII were not increased by exposure to 8-Cl-cAMP. These results suggested that the change in RI and/or RII levels caused by 8-Cl-cAMP was correlated with 8-Cl-cAMP-induced growth inhibition and that the collateral sensitivity to 8-Cl-cAMP in CDDP-resistant cells was due to the increased RII level. Our results suggest that 8-Cl-cAMP can be used in combination with CDDP and that measurement of RI and RII levels and/or the RI/RII ratio is a useful tool to predict CDDP sensitivity.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed1992

Phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is activated by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).

We have investigated the effect of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) on signal transduction pathways. CDDP treatment did not cause any change in the binding of [3H]-phorbol dibutyrate to PC-9 (human lung adenocarcinoma cell line) cells, a measure of protein kinase C activation. However, 2-h CDDP treatment (20 micrograms/ml) caused approximately 200% increase in 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol (DAG) production and approximately 50% decrease in inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate production. To explore the different source of DAG, we analyzed phospholipids labeled with [14C]choline by TLC and revealed that [14C]choline-labeled phosphatidylcholine (PC) was decreased to 50% by CDDP treatment. This suggested that PC turnover was increased by CDDP-treatment. PC-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity was increased to 2.5-fold (2.58 +/- 0.28 nmol/mg protein per min) by 2 h CDDP (20 micrograms/ml) treatment compared with control (1.05 +/- 0.24 nmol/mg protein per min). Treatment of CDDP also stimulated PC-PLC in the crude membrane extract from PC-9 cells. CDDP had no effect on the activities of phospholipase A2 and D. Trans-DDP, which has far less cytotoxicity than its stereoisomer, CDDP, did not cause any change in PC-PLC activity. A significant inhibition of DNA synthesis (less than 80%) occurred 4 h after 2 h CDDP (20 micrograms/ml) treatment. These results demonstrated that CDDP-induced PC-PLC activation was an early event in CDDP-induced cytotoxicity and suggested that the effects of CDDP on signal transduction pathways had an important role in CDDP-induced cytotoxicity.

Cisplatin↗

PubMed1991

Establishment of a human leukemia subline resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and showing non-P-glycoprotein-mediated multi-drug resistance.

We have previously reported that K562/ADM, a typical P-glycoprotein-mediated multi-drug-resistant cell line, is cross-resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and non-TPA type tumor promoters. To elucidate the mechanism of cross-resistance to tumor promoters in K562/ADM, we have established a K562 subline resistant to TPA-induced growth inhibition by exposing K562 cells to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine for 24 hr followed by continuous exposure to TPA. A K562 subline resistant to the TPA-induced growth inhibition, termed K562/TPA, was selected by a limiting dilution technique. K562/TPA was more than 500-fold resistant to TPA compared with parental K562 cells. K562/TPA showed cross-resistance to etoposide, teniposide, adriamycin (ADM), vincristine, vindesine and 3-[(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)] methyl-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, but showed collateral sensitivity to cisplatin. Although K562/ADM was not cross-resistant to 3'-deamino-3'-morpholino-13-deoxo-10-hydroxycarminomycin (MX2), an anthracycline derivative, K562/TPA was cross-resistant to MX2. By Northern blot analysis, K562/TPA did not express MDR-1. Accumulation of ADM by K562/TPA was no lower than that of K562 although that of K562/ADM was 5-fold lower than K562. We examined the subcellular distribution of ADM by fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence of ADM was located in the nucleus of K562 and mainly in the cytoplasm of K562/TPA and K562/ADM. The distribution of ADM in K562/TPA, however, was different from that in K562/ADM. These results suggested that K562/TPA had a non-P-glycoprotein-mediated multi-drug-resistance phenotype and that the mechanism of drug-resistance in this cell line might be explained by an alteration in the intracellular drug distribution.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1991

Metallothionein content correlates with the sensitivity of human small cell lung cancer cell lines to cisplatin.

We have established cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) resistant human small cell lung cancer cell lines, H69/CDDP0.2 and H69/CDDP, to investigate the mechanism of acquired resistance to cisplatin. H69/CDDP0.2 and H69/CDDP were 6- and 11-fold resistant to cisplatin compared with the H69 parental cell line. H69/CDDP was also resistant to cadmium chloride (2-fold), cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum (4-fold), 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (3-fold) and 3-[(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl]-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosour ea (4-fold) if the drug concentrations that inhibit cell growth by 50% from growth inhibition assay were compared. There was no significant difference in the cisplatin accumulation among these cell lines. Although DNA interstrand cross-link formations, determined by filter elution assay in H69/CDDP0.2 and H69/CDDP, was decreased to 20 to 30% of that in H69 parental cells, the repair capacity of DNA interstrand cross-links was equivalent in all three cell lines. Intracellular glutathione content was equal in all cell lines. H69/CDDP had the highest glutathione S-transferase activity (H69, 11 nmol/min/mg protein, H69/CDDP0.2, 12 nmol/min/mg protein; H69/CDDP, 74 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively) and an overexpression of glutathione S-transferase pi mRNA. The drug concentrations that inhibit cell growth by 50% for cisplatin in all cell lines were decreased by treatment with ethacrynic acid, an inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase pi, but this did not alter the relative degree of resistance. Intracellular metallothionein content (H69, 14 pmol/mg protein, H69/CDDP0.2, 22 pmol/mg protein; H69/CDDP, 33 pmol/mg protein, respectively) and expression of metallothionein mRNA were correlated with the drug concentrations that inhibit cell growth by 50% of the three cell lines for cisplatin and cadmium chloride. The present study suggested the importance of metallothionein in the mechanisms of cisplatin resistance.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1991

Studies on anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) monoclonal antibody NMC-4, which inhibits both ristocetin- and botrocetin-induced vWF binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib.

Anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) monoclonal antibody NMC-4 completely inhibited vWF binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) lb induced by either ristocetin or botrocetin at an IgG concentration of approximately 10 micrograms/mL, and also blocked binding of asialo-vWF to GP lb. NMC-4 coupled beads isolated a 97-Kd fragment (Fr) from a whole tryptic digest of vWF. The N-terminal sequencing of the nonreduced 97-Kd Fr, in combination with amino acid analysis, showed it to be a homodimer of residues 449 through 728 of the constituent subunit. Present data, together with the results obtained from previous studies, confirm the existence of one or three possible inter-subunit disulfide bonds between cysteine residues 459, 462, and 464. NMC-4 bound to reduced vWF Fr(s) more weakly than to nonreduced Fr(s), but it did not react with Fr III-T2 of vWF, a disulfide-linked twin heterodimer of residues 273 through 511 and 674 through 728 (Marti et al, Biochemistry 26:8099, 1987). Fr III-T2 completely inhibited ristocetin-induced vWF binding at a concentration of 100 mumol/L but had no effect on botrocetin-induced binding. In addition, both the N- and C-terminal polypeptides, residues 449 through 549 and 674 through 728, generated by subdigestion of the 52/48-Kd Fr (Fujimura et al, J Biol Chem 261:381, 1986), inhibited preferentially ristocetin-induced vWF binding without affecting to botrocetin-induced vWF binding. These findings suggest that amino acid residues 512 through 673 of the vWF subunit are involved in botrocetin-induced vWF binding.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1991

Resistance to anticancer drugs in NIH3T3 cells transfected with c-myc and/or c-H-ras genes.

NIH3T3 cells transfected with c-H-ras and/or c-myc genes were examined for differences in drug sensitivity. The five transfectants used were N8, NIH3T3-nm-1, pT22-3-nm-2, pP1-4 and pT22-3. They were transfected with pKOneo alone, pKOneo and c-myc, pKOneo and c-myc plus activated c-H-ras, normal c-H-ras and activated c-H-ras genes, respectively. The IC50s of cisplatin, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, adriamycin, melphalan, and CPT-11 were significantly higher for NIH3T3-nm-1 abd pT22-3-nm-2 than for the parental NIH3T3 and N8 cells. Transfection with normal and activated C-H-ras oncogenes only led to increases in the IC50s of alkylating agents. There was no significant difference between the IC50s of N8 and those of NIH3T3 parental cells to any of these anticancer agents. These results strongly suggest that the expression of the c-myc gene plays a role in the acquisition of drug resistance. The c-myc gene may therefore provide us with an important clue in determining the mechanism of drug resistance.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Reversal of cisplatin resistance with amphotericin B in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line.

The potentiation of anticancer agents by non-anticancer drugs is one of the possible strategies for overcoming cellular resistance to chemotherapy. In order to overcome cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) resistance, we evaluated the sensitizing effect on CDDP-induced cytotoxicity of various non-anticancer agents which might alter membrane transport, by means of a colorimetric [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay. Drugs which have previously been demonstrated to modify multidrug resistance did not show a sensitizing effect to cisplatin. Only amphotericin B (AmB) selectively conquered CDDP resistance in the CDDP-resistant cell line. A drug accumulation study done by the atomic absorption method demonstrated that the accumulation of CDDP in the resistant cell line recovered to the level of the parental cell line after treatment with AmB. Thus, AmB might overcome CDDP resistance by increasing the accumulation of CDDP.

Amphotericin B↗

PubMed1991

Antiplatelet glycoprotein Ib monoclonal antibody (OP-F1) totally abolishes ristocetin-induced von Willebrand factor binding, but has minimal effect on the botrocetin-induced binding.

We describe here a new antiplatelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib monoclonal antibody (MoAb) designated OP-F1 (IgG1 kappa). Both OP-F1 and a well-characterized anti-GPIb MoAb, AP-1, totally abolished ristocetin-induced von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding to platelets and desialylated vWF binding to platelets at an IgG concentration of 2-8 micrograms/ml. AP-1 also blocked snake venom botrocetin-induced vWF binding at a similar IgG concentration, whereas OP-F1 had a minimal effect on botrocetin-induced binding. At a higher IgG concentration (150 micrograms/ml), OP-F1 inhibited botrocetin-induced binding by 50%. AP-1 (IgG) did not interfere with binding of [125I]OP-F1 (IgG) to platelets. Thus, the epitope involved in the binding of OP-F1 or AP-1 appears to be quite different. These results suggest that the vWF binding site(s) on the GPIb molecule generated by these inducers is in close proximity but not completely identical.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1991

The development of a treatment model for lymph node metastasis in nude mice transplanted with rat fibrosarcoma clone A.

We have tried to establish a model for lymph node metastasis in nude mice transplanted with clone A of methylcholanthrene-induced rat fibrosarcoma. Tumor cells transplanted either subcutaneously or intrafootpad metastasized exclusively to the lymph nodes in nude mice treated with antiasialo GM1 antiserum. In the experiments of intrafootpad transplantation, all the mice died of disseminated lymph node metastasis if the leg was not resected, or was resected more than 3 weeks after the transplantation of clone A. Some mice whose legs were amputated 1 or 2 weeks after transplantation could be cured by amputation alone. The maximum effective dose of in vitro active drug could improve the survival in mice, and 3/5, 4/5, and 3/5 mice treated with MMC, ACNU and CDDP respectively were cured even if their legs were amputated 3 weeks after transplantation. This tumor-bearing animal system was considered to provide a valuable experimental model for lymph node metastasis.

Amputation, Surgical↗

PubMed1991

[A case of primary intrapulmonary benign schwannoma].

A case of primary intrapulmonary schwannoma was described. A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough. A chest radiograph showed partial atelectasis of the middle lobe, but computed tomogram of the chest revealed no tumor shadow. Bronchoscopy disclosed a pale-yellow uneven endobronchial wall of the right middle lobe bronchus. Transbronchial biopsy revealed benign schwannoma. Primary intrapulmonary schwannoma has been rarely reported.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Fetus-specific expression of a form of cytochrome P-450 in human livers.

The developmentally regulated expression of forms of cytochrome P-450, namely, those encoded by lambda HFL33 and NF25 or HLp cDNAs, which were isolated from respective fetal and adult human liver cDNA libraries, was investigated. When EcoRI fragments of cDNA clones of lambda HFL33 and NF25 were used as probes, these probes hybridized with RNA from both fetal and adult human livers. However, when oligonucleotides specific to the coding and 3'-noncoding region of lambda HFL33 (oli-HFL and oli-HFL3', respectively) were used as probes, these probes gave hybridizable bands with RNA from fetal but not adult livers. On the other hand, an oligonucleotide probe specific to the coding region of NF25 and HLp (oli-NF) gave positive bands with RNA only from adult livers. These results indicate that P-450(HFL33) is expressed specifically in fetal livers and that neither P-450NF nor HLp is expressed in fetal livers, but one or both are expressed in adult livers.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Enhanced botrocetin-induced type IIB von Willebrand factor binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib initiates hyperagglutination of normal platelets.

Botrocetin, a protein isolated from the venom of the snake Bothrops jararaca, induces platelet aggregation/agglutination by von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding to the membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib, an action resembling that of ristocetin. However, some differences in the interaction between vWF and platelet GPIb induced by these two substances have been reported. We have recently shown that the GPIb binding domain on the vWF molecule, in both instances, resides in the tryptic 52/48 kDa fragment extending from amino acid residue 449 to 728 of the constituent subunit. In the present report, we demonstrate that botrocetin does not induce agglutination of formalin-fixed platelets from a patient with Bernard-Soulier syndrome congenitally lacking GPIb and GPIX as well as GPV, a finding similar to that shown with ristocetin. A monoclonal antibody against GPIb (AP-1) inhibits either ristocetin- or botrocetin-dependent vWF binding to formalin-fixed platelets from normal individuals. Therefore, botrocetin-induced vWF binding to formalin-fixed platelets may reflect the interaction between vWF and platelet GPIb. To strengthen this concept, we have now found that heightened botrocetin-induced type IIB vWF binding to platelet GPIb causes hyperagglutination of normal platelets.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1990

Characterization of an etoposide-resistant human small-cell lung cancer cell line.

We established an etoposide (VP-16)-resistant human small-cell lung cancer cell line (H69/VP) by stepwise exposure to VP-16. The resistance of H69/VP to VP-16 was 9.4-fold that of the parent cell line (H69/P). H69/VP showed cross-resistance to Adriamycin (ADM), (4S)-4,11-diethyl-4-hydroxy-9-[(4-piperidinopiperidino) carbonyloxy]-1H-pyrano[3',4':6,7]indolizino [1,2-b]quinoline-3,14(4H,12H)-dionehydrochloride trihydrate (CPT-11), teniposide (VM-26), vindesine (VDS) and vincristine (VCR). The amount of DNA topoisomerase II (topo.II) was nearly the same in H69/P and H69/VP cells. The catalytic activity of topo.II in H69/VP cells was lower than that in the H69/P line. Accumulation of [3H]-VP-16 in H69/VP was 6.1-7.5 times lower than that in H69/P. According to Northern blot analysis, the mdr-1 mRNA level in H69/VP was markedly higher than that in H69/P. These findings suggest that H69/VP has a typical multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype and that alteration of the drug accumulation mediated by P-glycoprotein may play an important role in resistance to VP-16. Reduced topo.II activity may also be associated with VP-16 resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1990

Cross-resistance to tumour promoters in human cancer cell lines resistant to adriamycin or cisplatin.

The growth inhibitory effect of tumour promoters on human leukaemia and lung cancer cell lines was examined using the [3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The four cell lines used were the K562 human leukaemia cell line, its adriamycin (ADM)-resistant subline (K562/ADM), which shows the mdr phenotype, PC-9 (a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line) and its cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant subline (PC-9/CDDP), which does not show the mdr phenotype. Phorbol 12-tetradecanoate-13-acetate (TPA) and the TPA-type tumour promoters, aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin, inhibited the growth of the two parental cell lines, K562 and PC-9. The non-TPA-type tumour promoter, okadaic acid, also inhibited the growth of the two parental cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. TPA-type and okadaic acid inhibited the growth of K562/ADM more weakly than that of K562, and showed no growth inhibition in PC-9/CDDP. Anhydrodebromoaplysiatoxin, an inactive derivative of the TPA-type tumour promoter, could suppress the growth of K562 and K562/ADM only at high concentration (more than 50 pM) and it showed similar growth inhibitory effects on the two cell lines. Okadaic acid tetramethyl ether, the inactive form of the non-TPA-type tumour promoter did not inhibit the growth of any of the cell lines. The growth inhibitory effect of these compounds was well correlated with their tumour-promoting activity. A study of the accumulation of okadaic acid revealed that the amount of 3H-okadaic acid in K562/ADM and PC-9/CDDP was similar to that in their parental cells indicating that cross-resistance to this tumour promoter in the drug-resistant cell lines is not due to a difference in the amount of drug accumulated in sensitive and resistant cells. These results suggest the presence of another common mechanism for resistance to ADM and CDDP as well as to TPA- or non-TPA-type tumour promoters.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1990

Detection of proteins that recognize platinum-modified DNA using gel mobility shift assay.

Using a gel mobility shift assay, we have identified proteins, in the nuclear extracts of a human lung cancer cell line, that recognize cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP, CDDP)-modified DNA. A 158-base-pair double-stranded DNA fragment, derived from pBR322 plasmid DNA, was modified by either CDDP, tetrachloro(dl-trans)-1,2-diaminocyclohexaneplatinum(IV) (tetraplatin) or trans-DDP (the stereoisomer of CDDP and clinically ineffective). These platinum drug-modified probes were incubated with nuclear extracts and analyzed by gel mobility shift assay. Proteins in the extracts selectively recognized the clinically active platinum-modified DNA fragment. No binding to the trans-DDP-modified DNA fragment was observed. These proteins may play a role in the cytotoxicity or in a DNA repair process.

Cisplatin↗

PubMed1990

[Myxomatous stromal changes in bone marrow following chemotherapy of acute leukemia--immunohistochemical characteristics of matrix components].

Although fibrosis and gelatinous transformation of bone marrow stroma are well known, there have been few histopathological descriptions in the literature. We studied 16 cases of acute leukemia, and describe the myxomatous changes of bone marrow stroma observed at 2 or 3 weeks following chemotherapy. We analyzed the extracellular matrix components immunohistochemically, using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies raised against collagens, proteoglycans (PG), fibronectin and laminin. We found that the major components of the myxomatous matrix were chondroitin 6-sulfate PG and large PG. The stainability resembles that of extracellular matrix components in long-term bone marrow culture. We suppose that the myxomatous matrix provides favorable conditions for hematopoiesis, because hematopoietic cells proliferate and differentiate as soon as such stromal changes occur.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

[Chemosensitivity test for lung cancer].

The complete response rate in advanced non-small cell lung cancer is extremely low and the effect of chemotherapy on survival is still obscure. The emergence of resistance to anticancer agents results in the poor prognosis in small cell lung cancer although the initial response rate has improved. The significance of chemosensitivity test in lung cancer can be classified to three areas. The first of these as the individualization of chemotherapy, which means the selection of different active drugs for individual patients. In spite of numerous studies, there remain many theoretical and technical problems in predictive drug sensitivity testing. It is still far from practical use. Secondly, drug sensitivity tests have contributed to the screening of new anticancer agents. Since 1986, NCI (USA) started the disease oriented drug screening system (DOS) using human cancer cell lines. So far, active drugs against drug resistant tumors such as colon and non-small cell carcinoma have been found out by DOS. The clinical application of these drugs selected by DOS may give the answer concerning the validity of this new screening system. Thirdly, drug sensitivity tests have widely been used for the analysis of the mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance. By the progress of study in this field the biochemical and molecular biological targets of drug sensitivity test will be elucidated.

Antineoplastic Agents↗