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Biomedical subjects

M Baba

Publications and source records attributed to M Baba.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Marked suppression of T cells by a benzothiophene derivative in patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

In a search for new anti-autoimmune agents that selectively suppress activation of autoreactive T cells, one such agent, 5-methyl-3-(1-methylethoxy)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide (CI-959-A), was found to be effective. This compound, which is known to suppress tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced CD54 expression, inhibited the primary proliferative response of the T cell to antigen (Ag)-presenting cells (APCs) including allogenic dendritic cells (DCs), autologous Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cells, and human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-infected T cells. Autoreactive T cells from patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) spontaneously proliferate in vitro, and their activation is reported to be associated with CD54 expression. The spontaneous proliferation of T cells from patients with HAM/TSP was entirely blocked by CI-959-A. However, in this study, the T-cell proliferation in 15 patients with HAM/TSP was found to depend more extensively on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and CD86 than on CD54 Ags. Since most important APCs for the development of HAM/TSP are DCs and HTLV-I-infected T cells, the effect of CI-959-A on DC generation and on the expression of surface molecules on activated T cells is examined. CI-959-A suppressed recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)- and recombinant interleukin-4-dependent differentiation of DCs from monocytes and inhibited the expression of CD54 and, more extensively, MHC class II and CD86 Ags. CI-959-A showed little toxicity toward lymphoma or HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines or toward monocytes and cultured DCs. These results suggest that CI-959-A might be a potent anti-HAM/TSP agent.

Adult

T134, a small-molecule CXCR4 inhibitor, has no cross-drug resistance with AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist with a different structure.

T22, an analog of polyphemusin II (18 amino acid residues), was found to block T-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry into target cells as a CXCR4 inhibitor. We synthesized T134, a small analog (14 amino acid residues) of T22 with reduced positive charges. T134 exhibited highly potent activity and significantly less cytotoxicity in comparison to that of T22. T134 prevents the anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody from binding to peripheral blood mononuclear cells but has no effect on the binding of anti-CCR5 monoclonal antibodies. Since T134 inhibits the binding of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) to MT-4 cells, it seems that T134 prevents HIV-1 entry by binding to CXCR4. The bicyclam AMD3100 has also been shown to block HIV-1 entry via CXCR4 but not via CCR5. Both T134 and AMD3100 are CXCR4 antagonists and low-molecular-weight compounds but have different structures. Our results indicate that T134 is active against wild-type T-tropic HIV-1 strains and against AMD3100-resistant strains.

Anti-HIV Agents

Human follicular dendritic cells remain uninfected and capture human immunodeficiency virus type 1 through CD54-CD11a interaction.

It has been reported that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) bound to follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) remains highly infectious to CD4(+) T cells even when it forms immune complexes with neutralizing antibody (HIV-1/IC). To elucidate the role of FDCs in HIV-1 transmission to CD4(+) T cells in lymph nodes, we have isolated and purified FDCs from human tonsils and examined whether the HIV-1/IC trapped on their surface is infectious to CD4(+) T cells. To our surprise, not the HIV-1/IC but the antibody-free HIV-1 on FDCs could be transmitted to CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, in contrast to previous studies showing that FDCs are productively infected with HIV-1, the present study clearly demonstrated that FDCs were not the target cells for HIV-1 infection. FDCs could capture the viral particles on their surface; however, the binding of HIV-1 to FDCs was strongly inhibited by the presence of anti-CD54 (ICAM-1) monoclonal antibody (MAb) and anti-CD11a (LFA-1) MAb, suggesting that the adhesion molecules play an important role in the interaction between HIV-1 and FDCs.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes

The role of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected dendritic cells in the development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

The development of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is closely associated with the activation of T cells which are HTLV-1 specific but may cross-react with neural antigens (Ags). Immature dendritic cells (DCs), differentiated from normal donor monocytes by using recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and recombinant interleukin-4, were pulsed with HTLV-1 in vitro. The pulsed DCs contained HTLV-1 proviral DNA and expressed HTLV-1 Gag Ag on their surface 6 days after infection. The DCs matured by lipopolysaccharides stimulated autologous CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells in a viral dose-dependent manner. However, the proliferation level of CD4(+) T cells was five- to sixfold higher than that of CD8(+) T cells. In contrast to virus-infected DCs, DCs pulsed with heat-inactivated virions activated only CD4(+) T cells. To clarify the role of DCs in HAM/TSP development, monocytes from patients were cultured for 4 days in the presence of the cytokines. The expression of CD86 Ag on DCs was higher and that of CD1a Ag was more down-regulated than in DCs generated from normal monocytes. DCs from two of five patients expressed HTLV-1 Gag Ag. Furthermore, both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from the patients were greatly stimulated by contact with autologous DCs pulsed with inactivated viral Ag as well as HTLV-1-infected DCs. These results suggest that DCs are susceptible to HTLV-1 infection and that their cognate interaction with T cells may contribute to the development of HAM/TSP.

Antigen-Presenting Cells

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus replication by RD6-Y664, a novel benzylhydroxylamine derivative.

We have examined novel benzylhydroxylamine derivatives for their inhibitory effects on the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in cell cultures. Among the series, O-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (RD6-Y664) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of HIV-1. The EC50 for HIV-1 strain IIIB was 1.6 micrograms/ml with a selectivity index greater than 38 in MT-4 cells. It also inhibited the replication of other HIV strains including a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor-resistant mutant, a nucleoside RT inhibitor-resistant mutant and HIV-2, in acutely infected cells. However, the compound did not affect HIV-1 production in chronically infected cells. A time-of-addition experiment and detection of proviral DNA synthesis suggested that RD6-Y664 targeted an early step of the viral replication cycle, presumably a process prior to reverse transcription. In fact, an assay for HIV-1 RT revealed that the compound did not suppress enzyme activity. Furthermore, RD6-Y664 did not show any inhibition of gp120-CD4 interaction, or binding of anti-CXCR4 antibody to CXCR4.

Anti-HIV Agents

[Coronary artery bypass grafting in two patients with single coronary artery].

We experienced two patients with single coronary artery who underwent CABG using arterial grafts successfully. In two patients coronary angiography demonstrated a single coronary artery which was originated in left coronary sinus and was bifurcated to LAD and LCx, and then RCA branched off proximal LAD, passing in front of the right ventricular out flow tract (Sharbaugh Type L-IIa). To the first patient, a 52-year-old man who had angina on exertion due to long stenosis of RCA, CABG to RCA using RITA was carried out. To the second patient, a 57-year-old man who had inferior myocardial infarction due to 90% stenosis of proximal LAD, CABG to RCA using RITA and LAD using LITA was carried out. Single coronary artery without additional congenital cardiac anomalies may lead to myocardial ischemia, necessitating CABG as coronary reconstructions.

Coronary Angiography

[The clinical usefulness of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy].

To explore the optimum dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (i.v.Ig) for treating patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyrneuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy, we compared the usefulness of i.v.Ig among 3 treatment doses. Fifty-nine patients were randomly divided into three treatment dosage groups: 20 patients for Group I using 50 mg/kg/day x 5 days, 19 patients Group II using 200 mg/kg/day x 5 days, and 20 patients Group III using 400 mg/kg/day x 5 days. We assessed clinically and electrophysiologically the effectiveness of the treatment at 5 weeks after the initial infusion. For patients in Group I and II who had not improved (or worsened) with the first treatment, we gave a one-step larger dose in the second treatment (i.e. 200 mg/kg/day x 5 days for those who had been given 50 mg/kg/day x 5 days, 400 mg/kg/day x 5 days for those who had been given 200 mg/kg/day x 5 days) after more than 9 weeks. We found that 15% of the patients in Group I, 21% in Group II and 60% in Group III improved dose-dependently with the first intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. Seven (47%) of 16 patients in Group I and 4 (40%) of 11 patients in Group II improved after the second treatment with larger doses. Adverse reactions including chill sensation, fever, skin eruption and increase in blood GOT and GPT levels were transient and mild. One patient in Group III developed left hemiparesis showing the small infarction in the right thalamus during the course of the treatment, but the symptom was mild. In conclusion, the high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (400 mg/kg/day x 5 days) is useful for treating patients with CIDP and MMN, although care must be taken of the risk of causing cerebral infarctions.

Adolescent

[Hepatitis A].

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Biomarkers

Elevated levels of circulating plasma matrix metalloproteinase 9 in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Elevated expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 have been implicated as playing important roles in tumor invasion and metastasis in various tissues. We investigated the relationship between circulating plasma MMP-9, its expression in tumor samples, and other clinical features in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A series of 73 patients (45 men and 28 women) who underwent surgery for NSCLC was used in this study. Preoperative plasma concentrations of MMP-9 were examined using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 were measured in 24 tumor samples by immunohistochemistry. The plasma concentration of MMP-9 in NSCLC patients (71.0 +/- 60.2 ng/ml) was significantly elevated compared to that of healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001). MMP-9 concentrations were elevated in 33 of 73 cases (45.2%), compared with a cutoff value of the mean +/- 2 SD in healthy volunteers. There were statistically significant differences in MMP-9 concentration in adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.014) and adenocarcinoma versus large cell carcinoma (P = 0.014). Five of 24 patients (20.8%) had positive immunohistochemical MMP staining of the tumor cell cytoplasm, and two cases had positive staining in the surrounding stromal cells. Plasma MMP-9 concentrations were elevated in 45.2% of NSCLC patients; however, this elevation did not seem to correlate with MMP-9 production by cancer and stromal cells. We concluded that the MMP-9 ELISA could be a beneficial adjunct for assessing the tumor burden of NSCLC, especially for types of squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.

Aged

Pivotal role of TARC, a CC chemokine, in bacteria-induced fulminant hepatic failure in mice.

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is a recently identified lymphocyte-directed CC chemokine which specifically chemoattracts T helper type 2 CD4(+) T cells in human. To establish the pathophysiological roles of TARC in vivo, we investigated whether a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against TARC could inhibit the induction of hepatic lesions in murine model using Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). P. acnes-induced intrahepatic granuloma formation in the priming phase is essential to the subsequent liver injury elicited by a low dose of LPS. The priming phase appears to be dominated by Th1 type immune responses determined by the profile of chemokine and chemokine receptor expression. TARC was selectively produced by granuloma-forming cells, and CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)-expressing CD4(+) T cells migrated into the liver after LPS administration. In vivo injection of anti-TARC mAb just before LPS administration protected the mice from acute lethal liver damage, which was accompanied by a significant reduction of both CCR4 mRNA expression and IL-4 production by liver-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, both TNF-alpha and Fas ligand expressions in the liver were decreased by anti-TARC treatment. These results suggest that recruitment of IL-4-producing CCR4(+) CD4(+) T cells by granuloma-derived TARC into the liver parenchyma may be a key cause of massive liver injury after systemic LPS administration.

Animals

Potent inhibition of HIV type 1 replication by an antiinflammatory alkaloid, cepharanthine, in chronically infected monocytic cells.

Cepharanthine is a biscoclaurine alkaloid isolated from Stephania cepharantha Hayata and has been shown to have antiinflammatory, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory activities in vivo. As several inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stresses are involved in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection, we investigated the inhibitory effects of cepharanthine on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced HIV-1 replication in chronically infected cell lines. Two chronically HIV-1-infected cell lines, U1 (monocytic) and ACH-2 (T lymphocytic), were stimulated with TNF-alpha or PMA and cultured in the presence of various concentrations of the compound. HIV-1 replication was determined by p24 antigen level. The inhibitory effects of cepharanthine on HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven gene expression and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation were also examined. Cepharanthine dose dependently inhibited HIV-1 replication in TNF-alpha- and PMA-stimulated U1 cells but not in ACH-2 cells. Its 50% effective and cytotoxic concentrations were 0.016 and 2.2 microg/ml in PMA-stimulated U1 cells, respectively. Cepharanthine was found to suppress HIV-1 LTR-driven gene expression through the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. These results indicate that cepharanthine is a highly potent inhibitor of HIV-1 replication in a chronically infected monocytic cell line. Since biscoclaurine alkaloids, containing cepharanthine as a major component, are widely used for the treatment of patients with various inflammatory diseases in Japan, cepharanthine should be further pursued for its chemotherapeutic potential in HIV-1-infected patients.

Alkaloids

Anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of human-vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-neutralizing antibody on human colon and gastric carcinoma xenotransplanted orthotopically into nude mice.

In order to determine whether the inhibition of vascular-endothelial-growth-factor (VEGF) activity by administration of an immunoneutralizing antibody could suppress tumor growth and metastasis in spontaneous metastatic models of human colon and gastric carcinoma, 4 human carcinoma xenografts, 2 human colon carcinomas (TK4 and TK 13) and 2 gastric carcinomas (MT2 and MT5) were transplanted orthotopically into nude mice. The anti-VEGF antibody (MV833, 100 microg/mouse) or the same volume of saline was administered i.p. on alternative days from day 10 after transplantation. With each of the 4 xenografts, administration of MV833 significantly inhibited not only primary tumor growth but also macroscopic liver metastasis, although the growth rate varied. The inhibitory effect of MV833 on primary tumor growth appeared to have no correlation with the level of VEGF in tumor. Body-weight gain in each treated group was comparable with that in the control group. No toxicity of the antibody was observed. These results suggest that an anti-VEGF antibody can be effective against a wide variety of cancers, and that VEGF may be a possible target for cancer therapy.

Adenocarcinoma

T-cell-receptor signalling in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) type-1-deficient mice: is IP3R type 1 essential for T-cell-receptor signalling?

Stimulation of T-cells via the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex is accompanied by an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Recently, it was reported that a stable transformant of the human T-cell line, Jurkat, expressing an antisense cDNA construct of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) type 1 (IP3R1), failed to demonstrate increased [Ca2+]i or interleukin-2 production after TCR stimulation and was also resistant to apoptotic stimuli. This cell line lacked IP3R1 expression, but expressed the type-2 and -3 receptors, IP3R2 and IP3R3 respectively [Jayaraman, Ondriasova, Ondrias, Harnick and Marks (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 6007-6011, and Jayaraman and Marks (1997) Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 3005-3012]. The authors concluded that IP3R1 is essential for TCR signalling and suggested that Ca2+ release via IP3R1 is a critical mediator of apoptosis. To establish whether a loss of IP3R1 function in T-cells occurred in vivo and in vitro, we investigated Ca2+ signalling after TCR stimulation and the properties of T-cells using IP3R1-deficient (IP3R1-/-) mice. As IP3R1-/- mice die at weaning, we transplanted bone marrow cells of IP3R1-/- mice into irradiated wild-type mice. Western blot analysis showed that the recipient IP3R1-containing (IP3R1+/+) lymphocytes were replaced by the donor IP3R1-/- lymphocytes after transplantation and that expression of IP3R2 and IP3R3 was unaltered. In contrast with the previous reports, T-cells lacking IP3R1 were able to mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores after stimulation via the TCR. We observed no significant differences between IP3R1+/+ and IP3R1-/- T-cells in terms of the number of thymocytes and splenocytes, the proportion of the T-cell phenotype, proliferative response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) stimulation and cell viability. Therefore IP3R1 is not essential for T-cell development and function.

Animals

Prevention of murine AIDS development by (R)-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine.

LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) infection causes severe immunodeficiency termed murine AIDS (MAIDS). The acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, (R)-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine (PMPA) and 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) were examined, in comparison with zidovudine (AZT), for their inhibitory effect on the development of MAIDS. Although no significant difference in inhibition of LP-BM5 MuLV replication was identified between PMPA and PMEA in cell cultures, PMPA was obviously less cytotoxic to the host lymphocytes. None of the mice treated in vivo with 5 or 25 mg/kg of PMPA or 25 mg/kg of PMEA developed MAIDS at 5 weeks after viral infection. However at 9 weeks, none of the 25 mg/kg PMPA-treated mice progressed to MAIDS, except for one that developed mild MAIDS, whereas PMEA, even at 100 mg/kg, could not prevent disease progression. MAIDS-associated activation of lymphocytes and viral replication were drastically inhibited by PMPA treatment. These results indicate that PMPA is a highly effective antiretroviral agent in vivo.

Adenine

Alpha1-adrenoceptor stimulation enhances experimental gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats.

The effect of prolonged administration of the norepinephrine-mimicking agent metaraminol, the alpha1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine and the alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine on the incidence of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), the ornithine decarboxylase activity of the gastric cancer and the labeling index of the gastric mucosa were investigated in Wistar rats. Rats received s.c. injections of metaraminol, phenylephrine or clonidine every other day after 20 weeks of oral treatment with MNNG. At week 52, administration of metaraminol and phenylephrine at the higher dose significantly increased the incidence of gastric cancers, the ornithine decarboxylase activity of the gastric cancers and the labeling index of the antral epithelial cells. Administration of phenylephrine at the lower dose and clonidine at both doses had no significant effect on the incidence of gastric cancers, the ornithine decarboxylase activity of the gastric cancers or the labeling index of the gastric mucosa. Our results suggest that adrenoreceptor stimulation enhances gastric carcinogenesis and that such enhancement is mediated through alpha1-adrenoceptors without alpha2-adrenoceptor involvement.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Homonojirimycin isomers and N-alkylated homonojirimycins: structural and conformational basis of inhibition of glycosidases.

A series of natural epimers of alpha-homonojirimycin and its N-alkylated derivatives have been prepared to investigate the contribution of the different chiral centers and conformation of the specificity and potency of inhibition of glycosidases. These epimers and N-alkylated derivatives are alpha-homonojirimycin (1), beta-homonojirimycin (2), alpha-homomannojirimycin (3), beta-homomannojirimycin (4), alpha-3,4-di-epi-homonojirimycin (5), beta-4,5-di-epi-homonojirimycin (6), N-methyl-alpha-homonojirimycin (7), and N-butyl-alpha-homonojirimycin (8). Compound 1 was a potent inhibitor of a range of alpha-glucosidases with IC50 values of 1 to 0.01 microM. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 were surprisingly inactive as inhibitors of beta-glucosidase and alpha- and beta-mannosidases but were moderately good as inhibitors of rice and some mammalian alpha-glucosidases. Compound 4 was active in the micromolar range toward all alpha-glucosidases tested. Furthermore, compound 4, which superimposes well on beta-l-fucose, was a 10-fold more effective inhibitor of alpha-l-fucosidase than 1-deoxymannojirimycin (12) and 3, with a Ki value of 0.45 microM. Only compounds 5 and 6 showed inhibitory activity toward alpha- and beta-galactosidases (6with an IC50 value of 6.4 microM against alpha-galactosidase). The high-resolution structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction and showed a chair conformation with the C1 OH (corresponding to the C6 OH in 1-deoxynojirimycin) predominantly equatorial to the piperidine ring in the crystal structure. This preferred (C1 OH equatorial) conformation was also corroborated by 1H NMR coupling constants. The coupling constants for 7 suggest the axial orientation of the C1 OH, while in 8 the C1 OH axial conformation was not observed. The C1 OH axial conformation appears to be responsible for more potent inhibition toward processing alpha-glucosidase I than alpha-glucosidase II. It has been assumed that the anti-HIV activity of alkaloidal glycosidase inhibitors results from the inhibition of processing alpha-glucosidase I, but 1, 7, and 8 were inactive against HIV-1 replication at 500 microg/mL as measured by inhibition of virus-induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells. In contrast, the EC50 value for N-butyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (11), which also inhibits processing alpha-glucosidase I, was 37 microg/mL. Compound 7 has been shown to be a better inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase I than 1 and 8 both in vitro and in the cell culture system. These data imply that inhibition of HIV by glycosidase inhibitors can be due to factors other than simply inhibition of processing alpha-glucosidase I.

1-Deoxynojirimycin

Design and testing of a new cisplatin form using a base material by combining poly-D,L-lactic acid and polyethylene glycol acid against peritoneal metastasis.

Microspheres containing cisplatin (CDDP) embedded in poly-d,l-lactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol acid (CDDP-PPMS) were developed to improve treatment of malignant effusions. In vitro studies demonstrated that CDDP was released continuously for more than 4 weeks from CDDP-PPMS without initial burst. CDDP-PPMS was compared with CDDP aqueous solution (CDDP-SOL) by i.p. administration in rats for 1) tissue distribution, 2) toxicity and 3) therapeutic effects against Yoshida sarcoma. We found that the CDDP concentration in the omentum was maintained at a higher level than in the CDDP-SOL group, while the particles of CDDP-PPMS were observed in the stomata of the omentum by electron microscopy. Concentrations of CDDP in the lung, liver, kidney and blood were lower in the CDDP-PPMS group than in the CDDP-SOL group. All rats given CDDP-PPMS containing < or = 28 mg/kg were alive, whereas in the CDDP-SOL group, all rats given > or = 16 mg/kg died from side effects. The LD50 of CDDP-PPMS and CDDP-SOL were 32.8 and 14.8 mg/kg, respectively. The survival of rats with peritoneal metastasis was better in the CDDP-PPMS group than in the CDDP-SOL group.

Animals

Attenuation by methionine of monochloramine-enhanced gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats.

Helicobacter pylori appears to play a major role in the development of gastric cancer in humans. The mechanism behind the carcinogenic or co-carcinogenic effects of H. pylori has not been established. Ammonia, generated by urea from H. pylori, has been studied as a possible cause. However, the ammonia-monochloramine system has been shown to play a more important role in H. pylori-associated mucosal injury. Therefore, the effects of combined administration of monochloramine and methionine, singly or together, on the development of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. After receiving oral MNNG and regular chow pellet for 25 weeks, rats received regular chow pellets or chow pellets containing 20% ammonium acetate, and normal tap water or water containing 30 mM sodium hypochlorite, with or without a subcutaneous injection of methionine, until the end of the experiment (week 52). Treatment with both ammonium acetate and sodium hypochlorite, which produce monochloramine, significantly increased the incidence of gastric cancers in week 52, whereas the concomitant administration of methionine with ammonium acetate and sodium hypochlorite significantly attenuated such enhanced gastric carcinogenesis. Spectrophotometric examination revealed that methionine scavenged monochloramine. Our findings suggest that H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis may be mediated by monochloramine.

Animals