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Biomedical subjects

S Higuchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Higuchi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Coordinate involvement of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis strengthen the effect of FTY720.

A novel reagent, FTY720 (2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]-1,3-propanediol hydrochloride), has been shown to induce a significant decrease of lymphocytes and lymphoma cells and is expected to be a potent immunosuppressant and anti-tumor drug. The decrease in lymphocytes and lymphoma cells is mainly the result of FTY720-induced apoptosis. FTY720 directly affects mitochondria and induces cell death. Moreover, FTY720 activates protein phosphatase (PP) 2A and affects anti-apoptotic intracellular signal transduction proteins to attenuate the anti-apoptotic effect. In this study, we examined the relationship between FTY720-induced apoptosis and cell cycle regulation. FTY720 induced apoptosis significantly at the G0 / G1 phase and caused G0 / G1 cell cycle arrest of the human lymphoma cell lines HL-60RG and Jurkat. Simultaneously, retinoblastoma protein (pRB) was dephosphorylated, suggesting that dephosphorylation of pRB was related to FTY720-induced G0 / G1 cell cycle arrest. Because this dephosphorylation was completely blocked by a specific PP1 / 2A inhibitor, okadaic acid, it appears that FTY720-activated PP2A is essential for FTY720-induced cell cycle arrest. FTY720-induced apoptosis was inhibited by Bcl-2 overexpression in Jurkat cells, but this did not prevent FTY720-induced cell cycle arrest, suggesting that the mechanism of FTY720-induced cell cycle arrest is independent of the mechanism of FTY720-induced apoptosis. These two independent pathways strengthen the effect of FTY720.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Effect of dosing schedule on pharmacokinetics of alpha interferon and anti-alpha interferon neutralizing antibody in mice.

The influences of dosing time and dosing schedule on the plasma alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) concentration and the production of anti-IFN-alpha neutralizing antibodies were investigated in ICR male mice adapted to cycles of 12 h of light and 12 h of dark. In mice pretreated with IFN-alpha for 21 days, the plasma IFN-alpha concentrations were significantly lower than those in control mice (P < 0.01). The clearance of IFN-alpha and its volume of distribution obtained at steady state were significantly higher in the animals with IFN-alpha pretreatment than in the mice without IFN-alpha pretreatment. The area under the concentration-time curve and the mean residence time of IFN-alpha were significantly smaller in IFN-alpha-pretreated animals than in control animals. The plasma IFN-alpha levels (measured 2 h after dosing) were significantly lower in mice treated daily with IFN-alpha, while the anti-IFN-alpha neutralizing antibody levels (measured 24 h after dosing) were significantly increased on days 15 and 21 of treatment. Plasma IFN-alpha levels were significantly decreased in association with the production of anti-IFN-alpha neutralizing antibodies in mice treated with IFN-alpha daily at either 0900 or 2100 h. By contrast, the plasma IFN-alpha levels (measured 2 h after dosing) remained stable in mice treated with IFN-alpha at 0900 h on alternate days, while they were significantly lower after 21 days of treatment in mice treated with IFN-alpha at 2100 h on alternate days. These changes were associated with a significant increase in the levels of anti-IFN-alpha neutralizing antibodies in the latter group. The present findings suggest that an appropriate dosing schedule and/or dosing time for IFN-alpha may reduce the level of production of anti-IFN-alpha neutralizing antibodies in experimental and clinical situations.

Animals↗

Effects of lansoprazole and amoxicillin on uptake of [(14)C]clarithromycin into gastric tissue in rats.

Triple therapy consisting of clarithromycin (CLR), lansoprazole (LPZ), and amoxicillin (AMZ) is effective as eradication therapy for patients with peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori infection. We evaluated the effects of LPZ and AMZ on the uptake of [(14)C]CLR into the gastric tissue of rats. After administration of [(14)C]CLR alone or in combination with LPZ and AMZ, the distributions of [(14)C]CLR in the main organs and gastrointestinal tissues were compared. LPZ and AMZ had no effect on the distribution of [(14)C]CLR in any tissue except gastric tissue. The concentration of radioactivity in gastric tissue was several times higher when [(14)C]CLR was administered orally together with LPZ than when it was administered alone. The gastric emptying of [(14)C]CLR became smaller in the case of the coadministration of LPZ. AMZ had no apparent influence on the disposition of [(14)C]CLR. After the intravenous administration of [(14)C]CLR, no effects of drug coadministration were evident. In vitro uptake of [(14)C]CLR into gastric tissue was enhanced in the case of a high-pH environment. The uptake was not influenced by the concurrent presence of LPZ and AMZ. These results suggest that the penetration of [(14)C]CLR possibly depends on elevated gastric pH, as gastric acid secretion was inhibited by LPZ, and this may be a primary factor in explaining why the concentration of [(14)C]CLR at the target site, gastric tissue, was enhanced by the coadministration of LPZ.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Elevated plasma homocysteine levels and risk of silent brain infarction in elderly people.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Silent brain infarction (SBI) on MRI is common in elderly people, and recent studies have demonstrated that SBI increases the risk of progression to clinically apparent stroke and cognitive decline. Therefore, an early and accurate detection of SBI and a search for potential treatable risk factors may have a significant impact on public health. METHODS: Community-dwelling elderly people aged >/=66 years who participated in the present study (n=153) underwent brain MRI and standardized physical and neuropsychological examinations as well as blood biochemistry determinations, including total plasma homocysteine (pHcy), renal function, vitamin status, and polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene. RESULTS: SBI was found in 24.8% of the participants. In the univariate analysis, the pHcy levels in subjects with SBI (13.6+/-4.1 micromol/L) were significantly higher (P=0.0004) than those in subjects without SBI (11.0+/-3.3 micromol/L). When pHcy levels were stratified into high (>/=15.1 mmol/L), moderate (11.6 to 15.0 mmol/L), and low (</=11.5 mmol/L) groups, age (P<0.0001), male sex (P<0.0001), the habits of cigarette smoking (P<0.0001) and of alcohol consumption (P=0.0002), and folate levels (P=0.01) were significantly associated with an elevation of pHcy levels. The elevated pHcy levels were significantly associated with SBI after individual adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, renal function, and the habits of smoking and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: pHcy level is associated with age and nutritional and other lifestyle factors, and it contributes to a risk for SBI.

Age Distribution↗

Localization of calcineurin in the mature and developing retina.

We studied the localization of calcineurin by immunoblotting analysis and immunohistochemistry as a first step in clarifying the role of calcineurin in the retina. Rat, bovine, and human retinal tissues were examined with subtype-nonspecific and subtype-specific antibodies for the A alpha and A beta isoforms of its catalytic subunit. In mature retinas of the three species, calcineurin was localized mainly in the cell bodies of ganglion cells and the cells in the inner nuclear layer, in which amacrine cells were distinctively positive. The calcineurin A alpha and A beta isoforms were differentially localized in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the ganglion cell, respectively. Calcineurin was also present in developing rat retinas, in which the ganglion cells were consistently positive for it. The presence of calcineurin across mammalian species and regardless of age shown in the present study may reflect its importance in visual function and retinal development, although its function in the retina has not yet been clarified. (J Histochem Cytochem 49:187-195, 2001)

Aged↗

Stereoselectivity and species difference in plasma protein binding of KE-298 and its metabolites.

In vitro protein binding of KE-298 and its plasma metabolites, deacetyl-KE-298 (M-1) and S-methyl-KE-298 (M-2), was high in rat (>97%), dog (>89%) and human plasma (>99%), respectively. Human serum albumin (>93%) was the main protein involved in the binding to plasma proteins, while the binding to human serum globulins was low (16-33%). The binding of KE-298 and its metabolites in all species of plasma was stereoselective. The (+)-(S)-enantiomers of these compounds bound rat, dog and human plasma proteins to a greater extent than did the (-)-(R)-enantiomers, except that the case of KE-298 was opposite in rat plasma. The stereoselective plasma levels of these compounds in rats, dogs, or humans would likely be due to stereoselective differences in binding to plasma albumin. The protein binding of M-1 in adjuvant-induced arthritis rat plasma was >97%, and the stereoselectivity was similar to the case of normal rat plasma. KE-298 and its metabolites remarkably displaced [14C]warfarin, which bound on albumin in a solution of diluted rat serum albumin. Similarly, there was a displacement of [14C]warfarin in solutions of dog and human serum albumin, and concomitantly the displacement of [14C]diazepam. [3H]Digitoxin was not displaced by any of the enantiomers in each albumin solution. No stereoselectivity was found in displacement by enantiomers of the three compounds. These results suggest that stereoselective protein binding can be attributed to quantitative differences in binding to albumin rather than to the different binding sites.

Animals↗

Determination of canine beta2-microgloblin in plasma and urine by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the determination of canine beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m) in plasma and urine. The detectable sensitivity for pure canine beta2-m was 0.05 microg/l and the analytical range was 0.1 to 50 microg/l. The mean analytical recovery when pure canine beta2-m was added to normal plasma was 101.9%. The mean analytical recovery in the urine was 102.1%. The intra-day variation coefficient was 3.1% in plasma, 4.3% in serum and 1.9% in urine. No difference was found between the concentration of beta2-m in plasma and serum (n=17). The concentration of beta2-m in the plasma of normal dogs was 1.82 +/- 0.57 mg/l (n=31). The mean excretion in 24 hr urine collected from normal dogs was 17.6 +/- 9.2 microg/l, 0.22 +/- 0.12 microg/kg of body weight or 14.2 +/- 9.4 microg/g of urine creatinine. The beta2-m creatinine index of random urine samples was 23.5 +/- 16.6 microg/g (n=26). There was a close correlation between the beta2-m creatinine index of 24 hr urine samples and that of random urine samples (r=0.872).

Animals↗

Quantitative EEG data and comprehensive ADL (Activities of Daily Living) evaluation of stroke survivors residing in the community.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that EEG values match other comprehensive activities of daily living (ADL) evaluations between stroke survivors and normal controls. Various functions related to ADL were examined by means of ADL assessments (Measurement of Competence in the Elderly Living at Home, Barthel Index, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, time needed to walk 10 metres) and biosocial synchronization (the questionnaire on biosocial rhythms of daily living). EEG was undertaken using a computer-assisted portable EEG recorder. The power spectra were computed using a fast Fourier transformation analysis (FFT). The absolute and relative powers (percent of the total EEG power) of 5 frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta) and the peak frequency were analyzed. In comparing stroke survivors and the independent elderly, the latter had higher scores than the former in assessments of various functions related to ADL. The absolute and relative power of the delta band were lower in normal controls, and the relative power of the alpha (2) band and the peak frequency were higher than those of stroke survivors. Among the correlations between EEG and ADL assessments, the absolute and relative power of the alpha (2) band correlated significantly with ADL assessments of stroke survivors with right hemiplegia. The peak frequency was significantly increased in cases with high ADL scores. In conclusion, significant correlations were identified between the quantitative EEG data of stroke survivors in the chronic stage, living in the community, and ADL-related functions. Computer-assisted portable EEG recording is a potentially useful screening tool for objectively evaluating the functional levels of stroke survivors in field work.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Population pharmacokinetics of digoxin in Japanese patients: a 2-compartment pharmacokinetic model.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the observed variability of digoxin disposition by performing a population pharmacokinetic analysis in a Japanese population. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of clinical pharmacokinetic data. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were obtained from 106 patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation (43 males and 63 females). METHODS: Digoxin concentrations in serum were measured by fluorescence polarisation immunoassay. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using a 2-compartment open pharmacokinetic model with the computer program NONMEM. RESULTS: 246 serum concentrations were obtained. Final pharmacokinetic parameters were: CL (L/h) = (0.036 x TBW + 0.112 x CL(CR)) x 0.77SPI x 0.784CCB, V1 = 1.83 L/kg, V2 = 22.6 L/kg and Q = 0.629 L/h/kg, where CL is total body clearance, V1 and V2 are the apparent volumes of distribution in the central and peripheral compartments, Q is intercompartmental clearance, TBW is total bodyweight (in kg), CL(CR) is creatinine clearance (in ml/min), SPI = 1 for concomitant administration of spironolactone (and zero otherwise) and CCB = 1 for concomitant administration of calcium antagonists (and zero otherwise). Concomitant administration of digoxin and spironolactone resulted in a 23% decrease in digoxin clearance. Concomitant administration of digoxin and calcium antagonists (diltiazem, nicardipine, nifedipine or verapamil) resulted in a 21.6% decrease in digoxin clearance. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated population parameter values may assist clinicians in the individualisation of digoxin dosage regimens.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

Identification of rat urinary and biliary metabolites of esonarimod, a novel antirheumatic drug, using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with postcolumn addition of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, a signal-enhancing modifier.

The biotransformation of esonarimod (KE-298) [(+/-)-2-acetylthiomethyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid], a new antirheumatic drug, was investigated in rats. Urinary and biliary excretions within 24 h after oral administration of 5 mg/kg [(14)C]esonarimod accounted for 89 and 10% of the dose, respectively. Initial metabolite analysis by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with negative ion mode, in which a mobile phase of 20 mM ammonium acetate (pH 4.6)/methanol with gradient-elution mode was used, failed to obtain any structural information on most of the metabolites due to poor sensitivity. To overcome this problem, postcolumn addition of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, a powerful signal-enhancing modifier, to the mobile phase was used, allowing pronounced signal enhancement and structural elucidation of urinary and biliary metabolites. The results of metabolite analysis suggested that esonarimod is predominantly biotransformed to a pharmacologically active metabolite, thiol-containing deacetyl-esonarimod (M-I), and subsequently undergoes extensive metabolism, mainly S-methylation followed by the combination of S-oxidation and oxidative conversion of the aromatic methyl group. No disulfide metabolites, such as M-I-cysteine mixed disulfide and M-I-dimer, were found in the excreta. This finding is probably evidence supporting the notion that the reactivity of the thiol moiety of M-I with macromolecules in vivo is extremely lower than that of common thiol-containing drugs.

Animals↗

Expression of P-glycoprotein in human placenta: relation to genetic polymorphism of the multidrug resistance (MDR)-1 gene.

To evaluate whether mutations in the human multidrug resistance (MDR)-1 gene correlate with placental P-glycoprotein (PGP) expression, we sequenced the MDR-1 cDNA and measured PGP expression by Western blotting in 100 placentas obtained from Japanese women. Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed with an allelic frequency of 0.005 to 0.420. Of these SNPs, G2677A (allelic frequency = 0.18) and G2677T (0.39) in exon 21 were associated with an amino acid conversion from Ala to Thr and to Ser, respectively. Sixty-one of 65 samples (93.8%), which had a C3435T allele, also had a mutant G2677(A,T) allele, suggesting an association between the two SNPs. Correlations of mutations with expression levels were observed; individuals having the G2677(A,T) and/or T-129C (p < 0.05) allele had less placental PGP. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)-based genotyping tests were developed for the detection of these SNPs. The PCR, in which genomic DNAs obtained from healthy subjects (n = 48) are used as samples, was successful. The frequency of mutations in placental cDNA was identical with that in genomic DNA. When genotype results were compared between Caucasians and Japanese, ethnic differences in the frequency of polymorphism in the MDR-1 gene were suspected. Although it remains to be determined whether these SNPs influence the pharmacokinetic and dynamic properties of clinically useful drugs that are substrates of PGP, the polymorphism of the MDR-1 gene presented here may provide useful information in in vivo study of these issues.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Dosing time-dependent tolerance of catalepsy by repetitive administration of haloperidol in mice.

To investigate the effect of repeated administration time on the development of tolerance, male ICR mice, housed under 12:12-h light/dark cycle (7:00 AM, lights on), were treated with haloperidol 4 mg/kg/day i.p. at 9:00 AM or 9:00 PM, the time nearly corresponding to the maximal or minimal catalepsy responses to a single dose, respectively, for 14 days and catalepsy responses were monitored at 1 h after administration each day. The findings indicated that, on day 1 to day 6, a greater development of tolerance was seen in the group of mice treated at 9:00 AM, and catalepsy behavior exhibited a significant difference between the two dosing times (P < 0.01). The study of D(2) receptor mRNA expression in mouse striatum revealed that the phase of D(2) receptor mRNA rhythm was similar to that of catalepsy response, with the maximum around mid-light and the minimum around mid-dark. After repeated administration, the increase in D(2) receptor mRNA levels in mice treated with haloperidol at 9:00 AM was higher than that of mice treated with haloperidol at 9:00 PM. In addition, from a [(3)H]spiperone binding study, the amount of binding site [(3)H]spiperone after repeated injection of haloperidol at 9:00 AM was greater than that after repeated injection at 9:00 PM. These findings demonstrate the importance of dosing time on the susceptibility to extrapyramidal effects and the relation of administration time to D(2) receptor change and tolerance.

Animals↗

Oxidation mechanism of 7-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol and 8-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol to the corresponding ketones by CYP3A11.

A cDNA isolated from a C57BL/6 mouse liver cDNA library had the identical nucleotide sequence in coding region with the mouse CYP3A11, and the NH(2)-terminal sequence was also identical to that of cytochrome P450 (P450) MDX-B, a microsomal alcohol oxygenase. The COS-7 cells transfected with the CYP3A11 expression vector formed 7-oxo-Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol (7-oxo-Delta(8)-THC) from 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC. An immunologically related protein with P450 MDX-B was expressed in the COS-7 cell microsomes. The cell microsomes expressed CYP3A11; COS-3A11 catalyzed the oxidation of 7-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC and 8-hydroxy-Delta(9)-THC to 7-oxo-Delta(8)-THC and 8-oxo-Delta(9)-THC, respectively, in a reconstituted system. (18)O derived from atmospheric oxygen was incorporated into about 30% of the corresponding ketones formed from 7alpha-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC and 8beta-hydroxy-Delta(9)-THC by mouse hepatic microsomes, P450 MDX-B, and COS-3A11, although incorporation of the stable isotope into the oxidized metabolites from 7beta-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC and 8alpha-hydroxy-Delta(9)-THC was negligible. (18)O, however, was not incorporated into 7-oxo-Delta(8)-THC formed from 7alpha-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC by using cumene hydroperoxide instead of NADPH under (18)O(2). When (18)O-labeled 7alpha-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC and 8beta-hydroxy-Delta(9)-THC were incubated with above enzymes under air, about 30% of the ketones formed released (18)O from a hydroxy group at the 7 and 8 positions in the course of the oxidation. These results suggest that 7alpha-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC and 8beta-hydroxy-Delta(9)-THC may be oxidized to the corresponding ketones by CYP3A11 via a gem-diol pathway. 7beta-Hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC and 8alpha-hydroxy-Delta(9)-THC may be also converted to the ketones through a stereoselective dehydration of an enzyme-bound gem-diol rather than through a direct hydrogen extraction as a peroxy form of the enzyme.

Animals↗

Archaeal adaptation to higher temperatures revealed by genomic sequence of Thermoplasma volcanium.

The complete genomic sequence of the archaeon Thermoplasma volcanium, possessing optimum growth temperature (OGT) of 60 degrees C, is reported. By systematically comparing this genomic sequence with the other known genomic sequences of archaea, all possessing higher OGT, a number of strong correlations have been identified between characteristics of genomic organization and the OGT. With increasing OGT, in the genomic DNA, frequency of clustering purines and pyrimidines into separate dinucleotides rises (e.g., by often forming AA and TT, whereas avoiding TA and AT). Proteins coded in a genome are divided into two distinct subpopulations possessing isoelectric points in different ranges (i.e., acidic and basic), and with increasing OGT the size of the basic subpopulation becomes larger. At the metabolic level, genes coding for enzymes mediating pathways for synthesizing some coenzymes, such as heme, start missing. These findings provide insights into the design of individual genomic components, as well as principles for coordinating changes in these designs for the adaptation to new environments.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Determination of pibutidine metabolites in human plasma by LC-MS/MS.

A novel metabolite-screening procedure for pibutidine. an H2-receptor antagonist, which uses high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), demonstrated the presence of pibutidine and its four metabolites in plasma from volunteers who received a single dose of pibutidine hydrochloride. In order to quantitatively examine the metabolism of pibutidine, an assay based on LC-MS/MS was subsequently developed for the simultaneous determination of its metabolites in human plasma. Target analytes consisted of M-5, M-7 and M-8, which were prominently detected by the screening procedure, and M-9, which has pharmacological activity as an H2-receptor antagonist. Metabolites and their deuterated internal standards were extracted from human plasma using an Oasis HLB extraction cartridge, and chromatographed on a Monitor C18M column. No isotope effects on chromatographic retention time were observed for any deuterated compounds, which were ionized using an electrospray ionization (ESI)- interface and detected by MS/MS in the selected reaction-monitoring (SRM) mode simultaneously with the corresponding metabolites. The assay was validated over the concentration range of 0.1 to 25.6 ng ml(-1) and used to determine the plasma levels of metabolites in volunteers following oral administration of a 20-mg dose of pibutidine hydrochloride.

Area Under Curve↗