Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Rosa.
The synthesis of C32-O-arylethyl ether derivatives of ascomycin that possess equivalent immunosuppressant activity but reduced toxicity, compared to FK-506, is described.
PURPOSE: Dipeptide derivatives of primaquine (PQ) with reduced oxidative deamination to the inactive metabolite carboxyprimaquine were synthesized and evaluated as a novel class of transmission-blocking antimalarials. METHODS; Antimalarial activity was studied using a model consisting of mefloquine-resistant Plasmodium berghei ANKA 25R/10, Balb C mice, and Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Metabolic studies were performed with rat liver homogenates, and the incubates were analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: All dipeptide derivatives and glycyl-PQ completely inhibited the appearance of oocysts in the midguts of the mosquitoes at 15 mg/ kg, while N-acetylprimaquine was not active at this dose. However, none of the title compounds were able to block oocyst production at 3.75 mg/kg, in contrast with primaquine. Exception for sarc-gly-PQ, all remaining compounds prevented sporozoite formation in the salivary glands of mosquitoes at a dose of 3.75 mg/kg. Simultaneous hydrolysis to primaquine and gly-PQ ocurred with the following order of Vmax/Km: for primaquine formation. L-ala-gly-PQ > L-phe-gly-PQ > gly-gly-PQ; and for gly-PQ formation, L-phe-gly-PQ > L-ala-gly-PQ > gly-gly-PQ. In contrast, primaquine was not released from D-phe-gly-PQ, sarc-gly-PQ, and N-acetylprimaquine. Neither carboxyprimaquine nor 8-amino-6-methoxyquinoline were detected in any of the incubation mixtures. CONCLUSIONS: The title compounds prevent the development of the sporogonic cycle of Plasmodium berghei. Gametocytocidal activity is independent of the rate and pathway of primaquine formation. Acylation of the aliphatic side-chain effectively prevents the formation of carboxyprimaquine, but the presence of a terminal amino group appears to be essential for the gametocytocidal activity.
The effect of chloroquine (CQ) on the production pattern of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in female C57BL6 mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS was evaluated during a period of 35 days. Our data confirm that there is a switch from a T helper cell (Th)1 to a Th2 response during malaria infection in this model. Proliferation assays showed a decreased stimulation index in infected mice that was further reduced in infected mice treated with CQ. Noninfected control mice treated with CQ showed an increase production of IFN-gamma. However, no detectable changes in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 production were observed in this group. CQ treatment of infected mice resulted in parasite clearance that was associated with an earlier production of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 when compared with nontreated infected mice. We suggest that this earlier switch to a Th2 response is a consequence of parasite killing rather than CQ interference with cytokine production.
A series of C32-O-aralkyl ether derivatives of the FK-506 related macrolide ascomycin have been prepared based on an earlier reported C32-O-cinnamyl ether design. In the present study, the nature of the aryl tethering group was varied in an attempt to improve oral activity. An imidazol-2-yl-methyl tether was found to be superior among those investigated and has resulted in an ascomycin analog, L-733,725, with in vivo immunosuppressive activity comparable to FK-506 but with an improved therapeutic index.
BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus (FK506) is an immunosuppressive drug 50-100 times more potent than cyclosporine (CsA), the current mainstay of organ transplant rejection therapy. Despite being chemically unrelated, CsA and tacrolimus exert their immunosuppressive effects through the inhibition of calcineurin (CaN), a critical signaling molecule during T-lymphocyte activation. Although numerous clinical studies have proven the therapeutic efficacy of drugs within this class, tacrolimus and CsA also have a strikingly similar profile of unwanted side effects. METHOD: Our objective has been to identify a less toxic immunosuppressant through the modification of ascomycin (FK520). Quantitative in vitro immunosuppression and toxicity assays have demonstrated (see the accompanying article, p. 18) that we achieved our goal with L-732,531 (indolyl-ascomycin; indolyl-ASC), a 32-O-(1-hydroxyethylindol-5-yl) ascomycin derivative with an improved therapeutic index relative to tacrolimus. RESULTS: We report that the attributes of indolyl-ASC may result from its distinctive biochemical properties. In contrast to tacrolimus, indolyl-ASC binds poorly to FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP12), the major cytosolic receptor for tacrolimus and related compounds. However, the stability of the interaction between the FKBP12-indolyl-ASC complex and CaN is much greater than that of the FKBP12-tacrolimus complex. These distinguishing properties of indolyl-ASC result in the potent inhibition of CaN within T lymphocytes but may lower the accumulation of the drug at sites of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Indolyl-ASC may define those properties needed to increase the therapeutic efficacy of a macrolactam immunoregulant for treating both human autoimmune disease and organ transplant rejection.
The use of a short (< 1 h) nap in improving alertness during the early morning hours in the first night shift was examined under laboratory conditions. The study contained four experimental, non-consecutive night shifts with a nap of either 50 or 30 min at 01.00 or 04.00 hours. An experimental night shift without a nap served as a control condition. Each experimental shift was followed by daytime sleep. Fourteen experienced male shift workers went through all of the experimental conditions. The results showed that the naps improved the ability to respond to visual signals during the second half of the night shift. Physiological sleepiness was alleviated by the early naps, as measured 50 min after awakening, but not at the end of the shift. Subjective sleepiness was somewhat decreased by the naps. The naps produced sleep inertia which lasted for about 10-15 min. Daytime sleep was somewhat impaired by the 50 min naps. The study shows that a nap shorter than 1 h is able to improve alertness to a certain extent during the first night shift.
The binding of [3H]ryanodine was determined in microsomal membrane preparations obtained from cultured cerebellar granule cells. A KD of 1 nM and a Bmax of 64 fmol/mg protein were calculated from saturation experiments. This binding was calcium dependent and maximum values were obtained at 100-300 microM Ca+2. Caffeine increased [3H]ryanodine binding only at Ca+2 concentrations lower than optimum. The binding of [3H]ryanodine was inhibited by ruthenium red, procaine and the delta-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (delta-HCH). Dantrolene, a ryanodine receptor antagonist in skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the pesticide gamma-HCH (lindane) had no effect on [3H]ryanodine binding. The obtained binding parameters, the Ca+2 dependence and the effects of the agents tested agree with previous reports using brain microsomal membranes, further indicating a neuronal localization of [3H]ryanodine binding sites. When the interaction between dantrolene and gamma- and delta-HCH was tested, no changes were detected on the effects of HCH isomers on [3H]ryanodine binding. Dantrolene, which inhibits Ca+2 release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and from unidentified internal Ca+2 stores in neurons, also inhibits the intracellular Ca+2 mobilization induced by gamma-HCH but only marginally that induced by delta-HCH in the same preparation of cerebellar granule cells (Rosa et al.; Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, in press). Thus, the results obtained in this work verify the presence of different intracellular sites of action for the two HCH isomers: the ryanodine Ca+2 channel for delta-HCH and an unidentified dantrolene-sensitive Ca+2 channel for the gamma-HCH isomer.
The cytotoxic action of the delta- and gamma-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) as well as their ability to induce changes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis was studied in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. Changes in the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) related to Ca2+ influx and release from intracellular stores were investigated using, in addition to the physiological incubation medium, media without added Ca2+ (nominally Ca2+ free) or containing verapamil or dantrolene, drugs which block influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and release from intracellular stores, respectively. Cytotoxicity was monitored using leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and staining of damaged cells with either trypan blue or propidium iodide. In the latter case, when fluorescence microscopy was employed, undamaged cells were visualized using the vital stain calcein acetoxymethyl ester (calcein-AM). The delta-isomer of HCH was found to be more potent and active as a cytotoxic agent than the gamma-isomer (lindane) and it was demonstrated that the moderate cytotoxic action of lindane could be ameliorated by dantrolene which on the other hand had no effect on cytotoxicity induced by delta-HCH. It was noticed that pronounced (50% increase in fluorescence) staining with propidium iodide was associated with only a marginal (20%) LDH leakage and staining of only a few (<25%) cells with trypan blue. Both delta- and gamma-HCH induced an increase in [Ca2+]i which was most pronounced in case of delta-HCH. Analysis of the different mechanisms governing the increase in [Ca2+li using dantrolene, verapamil, and Ca2+-free medium revealed distinct differences between the two isomers with regard to the Ca2+ pools affected. Both isomers stimulated Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels but only the gamma-isomer affected a Ca2+-dependent, dantrolene-sensitive pool. On the other hand, delta-HCH affected mainly a Ca2+-independent dantrolene-insensitive pool. The finding that delta-HCH was more toxic than lindane may be correlated to the differences between the isomers with regard to the action on the different Ca2+ pools. Thus, delta-HCH affected primarily the dantrolene-insensitive Ca2+ pools which partly reflect influx. On the contrary, lindane had little effect on these Ca2+ pools but affected primarily dantrolene-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores. This may suggest that delta-HCH may exert its cytotoxic action by stimulating a large influx of Ca2+ possibly leading to release of Ca2+ from dantrolene-insensitive stores. In contrast, the toxic action of lindane may be primarily related to release of Ca2+ from the dantrolene-sensitive stores.
14CO2 production from [1-14C] glucose, the rate of glycolysis measured by the value of lactate production and the activities of various enzymes were determined in buffalo erythrocytes. Buffalo red cell glycolytic metabolites were estimated and used for the calculation of the mass action ratios of reactions catalyzed by the glycolytic enzymes of Bubalus bubalis. A comparison of the values of the mass action ratios with the equilibrium constants of the various glycolytic reactions indicate that hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase reactions are displaced from equilibrium, suggesting a regulatory role for each of these enzymes in buffalo erythrocyte glycolysis.
Buffalo erythrocytes contain one isozyme of hexokinase that apparently lacks microheterogeneity as shown by chromatographic properties. A single protein band was detected by means of Western blotting using an antibody raised in rabbits against homogeneous rat brain hexokinase I. The native protein has a molecular weight of 200,000 +/- 2880 by gel filtration. Partial purification of erythrocyte hexokinase by a combination of several procedures, including affinity chromatography, which was previously applied successfully to the purification of other mammalian type I hexokinases, produced a partially purified enzyme that showed several contaminants after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The affinity of buffalo erythrocyte hexokinase for glucose (K(m) = 0.012 +/- 0.001 mM) is lower than most other mammal hexokinases type I. It phosphorylates other sugars, with considerably higher K(m) values. This isozyme is able to use MgATP but does not use MgGTP, MgCTP or MgUTP. We used inhibition patterns, obtained with products to elucidate enzyme sequential mechanisms. Our results are clearly in agreement with a random sequential mechanism and in disagreement with an ordered sequential mechanism with either glucose or ATP as the obligatory first substrates. The ADP inhibition was of mixed type with both ATP and glucose as substrates.
The activity of important glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, aldolase, phosphohexoseisomerase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase) and glutaminolytic enzymes (phosphate-dependent glutaminase) was determined in the thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes of Wistar rats submitted to protein malnutrition (6% protein in the diet rather than 20%) from conception to 12 weeks after birth. The wet weight (g) of the thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes decreased due to protein malnutrition by 87% (from 0.30 +/- 0.05 to 0.04 +/- 0.01) and 75% (0.40 +/- 0.04 to 0.10 +/- 0.02), respectively. The protein content was reduced only in the thymus from 102.3 +/- 4.4 (control rats) to 72.6 +/- 6.6 (malnourished rats). The glycolytic enzymes were not affected by protein malnutrition, but the glutaminase activity of the thymus and lymph nodes was reduced by half in protein-malnourished rats as compared to controls. This fact may lead to a decrease in the cellularity of the organ and thus in its size, weight and protein content.
In order to investigate the basis of the repeated occurrence of the 1591C mutation (TPI 1591C, 105 Glu-Asp) in multiple unrelated families throughout the world, we studied five microsatellite and short tandem repeat markers that lie within a 1.77 megabase region which includes the TPI gene. We also studied an intragenic polymorphic marker that lies within intron 5 of the TPI gene. This polymorphism, recently described by others, is characterized by either an A or a G at position 2262 (the A in the initiation ATG is designated as +1 for both genomic and cDNA nucleotides). With very minor exceptions, all of the known families in the world with the 1591C mutation were available for study. These included five families from the U.S., three from France, one from Greece, one (of Turkish origin) from Germany, and two from Australia. Although we did not have the opportunity to directly study five families from the U.K., key data concerning the 2262 intragenic polymorphism in these subjects were made available to us. Four of the microsatellite and short tandem repeat markers were linked, but in apparent equilibrium. In contrast, a polymorphic repeat pentamer in the CD4 gene, thought to lie telomeric to TPI, was in apparent complete linkage disequilibrium with the TPI 1591C mutation. The intragenic polymorphism was also in apparent complete linkage disequilibrium with the mutation. In unrelated persons of known phase (1591C homozygotes or normal controls), the comparative allele frequencies for the CD4 pentameric repeat were 1.0 (14/14 alleles) in homozygous TPI 1591C subjects and 0.412 (28/68 alleles) in normal subjects (p < 0.0001). Again, in persons of known phase, the comparative allele frequencies for the A form of the intragenic 2262 A or G polymorphism were 1.0 (14/14 alleles) in 1591C homozygotes and 0.130 (7/54 alleles) in normals (p < 0.0001). Haplotypes were discernible in all of the 1591C homozygotes and in several of the heterozygotes and normals. The CD4 162, TPI 2262A haplotype was found on only two of thirty-eight normal chromosomes, but was universally associated with 1591C. The data indicate that all TPI 1591C subjects are descendants of a common ancestor who probably lived in what is now England or France. The original mutation probably occurred well in excess of 1000 years ago.
The accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates derived from phosphoinositide hydrolysis stimulated by gamma- and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane isomers was characterized in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells. The EC50 for gamma- and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane was 106 and 85 μM, respectively. Stimulatory effects of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers were highly dependent on extracellular Ca2+ but they were not inhibited by classical voltage-sensitive Ca2+ and Na+ channel blockers. The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger blocker amiloride caused a significant inhibition of delta-hexachlorocyclohexane effects. A lack of additive effects on phosphoinositide hydrolysis stimulation between hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and depolarization by high K+ was observed. The effects of each hexachlorocyclohexane isomer on glutamate or carbachol-induced inositol phosphate stimulation were also not additive, whereas that of high K+ was less than additive or synergistic when combined with glutamate or carbachol, respectively. When neuronal cells were exposed to the combination of delta-hexachlorocyclohexane and glutamate or carbachol in the presence of the respective receptor antagonists only the delta-hexachlorocyclohexane stimulatory effect was observed. Thus, the inhibition of glutamate- and carbachol-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis by delta-hexachlorocyclohexane seems to imply a receptor-independent mechanism. It is suggested that both gamma- and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane activate phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C partly through Ca2+-related mechanisms.
The cytotoxicity of the neurotoxic hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers alpha, beta, gamma (lindane) and delta and of the cyclodienes aldrin, endrin and alpha-endosulfan were studied in primary neuronal cultures of cerebellar granule cells. Disruption of cell membrane integrity, as indicative of cytotoxicity, was measured by propidium iodide staining. Additionally, the effects of these xenobiotic agents on three endpoints of the cellular status, concentration of intracellular-free calcium, intracellular oxygen-free radical formation and mitochondrial transmembrane potential were analyzed in parallel cultures to understand better the mechanisms of their neurocytotoxic action. To measure these parameters, the probes of the acetoxymethyl ester of fluo-3, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and rhodamine 123, respectively, were used. The order of cytotoxic potency of the HCH-isomers and the cyclodienes (delta-HCH > gamma-HCH > alpha-HCH approximately equal to aldrin approximately equal to alpha-endosulfan >> endrin approximately equal to beta-HCH) was very different from their in vivo LD50 order. delta-, gamma- and alpha-HCH increased the concentration of intracellular-free calcium, whereas delta- and gamma-HCH and alpha-endosulfan increased mitochondrial transmembrane potential, but none of the compounds generated oxygen-free radicals. The inhibition of delta- and gamma-HCH effects by several specific pharmacological agents suggests that delta-HCH causes its cytotoxic effects in part through intracellular Ca++ mobilization from intracellular pools sensitive to neomycin, whereas gamma-HCH acts through Ca++ influx and dantrolene-sensitive intracellular Ca++ mobilization. The use of selected endpoints of the cellular status proved to be a valuable tool to study the mechanisms of cytotoxicity.
Dibromosceptrin and clathrodin are alkaloid compounds purified from tropical marine sponges of the genus Agelas. Experiments done using the whole cell configuration of the patch clamp technique revealed that these compounds have neurotoxic activity. Both compounds decreased by 27-40% the average maximum amplitudes of pharmacologically isolated inward sodium currents in cells isolated from chick embryo sympathetic ganglia. Current-voltage data, fitted using Boltzmann's equation, did not show any effect of these agents on the voltage dependence of current activation. However, the voltage dependence of current inactivation was shifted toward more negative potentials by dibromosceptrin, changing by an average of 20 mV the voltage for 50% inactivation. In contrast, clathrodin shifted this voltage dependence of inactivation toward more positive potentials and changed the voltage for 50% inactivation by 14 mV. Time for current reactivation was not altered by clathrodin but was slightly prolonged by dibromosceptrin. Similarly, dibromosceptrin was more effective than clathrodin in delaying the time course of current decay. Thus, these two alkaloids appear to be new sodium channel neurotoxins acting through different mechanisms, dibromosceptrin modifying the channel inactivation characteristics and clathrodin probably influencing channel ionic conductance.
We describe the clinical manifestations of a multiple endocrine neoplasia, type IIb, in a 32 year old woman, admitted to a general hospital with intestinal sub-occlusion. The phenotype associated with bilateral pheochromocytomas show us the diagnosis, but the unsolved problem is the high levels of calcitonin, without macroscopic evidence of tumor relapse.
Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency is generally associated with chronic hemolytic anemia, although it can be accompanied by either mental retardation or muscular disease. Genomic DNAs of two PGK-deficient patients previously described in France were sequenced directly after polymerase chain reaction amplification. The PGK Créteil variant arises from a G-->A nucleotide interchange at position 1022 in cDNA (exon 9), resulting in amino acid substitution 314 Asp-->Asn in the C-terminal domain, which contains the nucleotide binding site. It is associated with rhabdomyolysis crises but not with hemolysis or mental retardation. In the other case, which is associated with chronic hemolytic anemia and mental retardation (PGK Amiens), an A-->T nucleotide interchange was found at position 571 in cDNA (exon 5); this leads to amino acid substitution 163 Asp-->Val in the N-terminal domain, which contains the catalytic site for phosphoglycerate binding. These results corroborate the kinetic data observed. In the two cases, the mutations are distinct from others previously reported and no significant relationship could be observed between the location of the amino acid substitution and its clinical consequences.
To date no definite and undisputed treatment has been found for sickle cell anemia, which is characterized by polymerization of a deoxygenated hemoglobin mutant (HbS) giving rise to deformed erythrocytes and vasoocclusive complications. Since the erythrocyte glycerate 2,3-bisphosphate (2,3-DPG) has been shown to facilitate this polymerization, one therapeutic approach would be to decrease the intraerythrocytic level of 2,3-DPG by increasing the phosphatase activity of the bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM; 3-phospho-D-glycerate 1,2-phosphomutase, EC 5.4.2.4). For this purpose, we have investigated the role of Gly-13, which is located in the active site sequence Arg9-His10-Gly11-Glu12-Gly13 in human BPGM. This sequence is similar to the Arg-His-Gly-Xaa-Arg* sequence of the distantly related acid phosphatases, which catalyze as BPGM similar phosphoryl transfers but to a greater extent. We hypothesized that the conserved Arg* residue in acid phosphatase sequences facilitates the phosphoryl transfer. Consequently, in human BPGM, we replaced by site-directed mutagenesis the corresponding amino acid residue Gly13 with an Arg or a Lys. In another experiment, we replaced Gly13 with Ser, the amino acid present at the corresponding position of the homologous yeast phosphoglycerate mutase (D-phosphoglycerate 2,3-phosphomutase, EC 5.4.2.1). Mutation of Gly13 to Ser did not modify the synthase activity, whereas the mutase and the phosphatase were 2-fold increased or decreased, respectively. However, replacing Gly13 with Arg enhanced phosphatase activity 28.6-fold, whereas synthase and mutase activities were 10-fold decreased. The presence of a Lys in position 13 gave rise to a smaller increase in phosphatase activity (6.5-fold) but an identical decrease in synthase and mutase activities. Taken together these results support the hypothesis that a positively charged amino acid residue in position 13, especially Arg, greatly activates the phosphoryl transfer to water. These results also provide elements for locating the conserved Arg* residue in the active site of acid phosphatases and facilitating the phosphoryl transfer. The implications for genetic therapy of sickle cell disease are discussed.