Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S M Pond

Publications and source records attributed to S M Pond.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The dopamine transporter gene and Parkinson's disease in a Chinese population.

We studied a variable number tandem repeat polymorphism within the dopamine transporter gene (DAT) for an association with Parkinson's disease in a Chinese population. Five alleles were detected, consisting of 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 copies of the 40 base pair repeat sequence. The 10-copy allele was most common, accounting for 90% of alleles. There were no significant differences between the patients and the control subjects in the distribution frequencies of the alleles or genotypes. Therefore, this polymorphism is not associated with Parkinson's disease in Chinese populations.

Aged↗

Long-term treatment with the tetrahydropyridine analog (HPTP) of haloperidol influences dopamine ligand binding in baboon brain. An [123I]iodobenzamide (IBZM) SPECT study.

Haloperidol (HP) and its tetrahydropyridine dehydration product 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-[4-(fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrid ine (HPTP) are both metabolized in vivo to several pyridinium metabolites with potential neurotoxic properties similar to the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a metabolite of the parkinsonian-inducing agent 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). The effect of long-term HPTP treatment on the central nervous system of baboons (Papio ursinus) was studied using [123I]iodobenzamide (IBZM) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) at 1-14 weeks after termination of HPTP treatment. Striatal dopamine receptor binding was measured semiquantitatively by calculating the IBZM count rate ratios of the basal ganglia to frontal cortex and basal ganglia to cerebellum. Relative striatal perfusion was assessed by similar 99mTc-HMPAO (hexamethylpropylene amine oxime) ratios. Time activity curves of IBZM from the brain structures suggest that HPTP treatment results in a marked reduction in central dopamine ligand binding, and in particular D2-like receptor binding. Increased washout of the ligand from all the brain structures investigated was seen in the HPTP-treated animals, also consistent with reduced binding. Cerebral blood flow in the control and HPTP-treated groups was similar, indicating that this did not account for the reduced dopamine receptor binding of the IBZM ligand. These data suggest that treatment with HPTP induces significant effects on dopamine receptor binding that may contribute to some of the neurological disorders observed in humans undergoing chronic HP treatment.

Animals↗

Conversion of irinotecan (CPT-11) to its active metabolite, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), by human liver carboxylesterase.

We have investigated the conversion of the novel anti-topoisomerase I agent CPT-11 (irinotecan; 7-ethyl-10[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidno]carbonyloxycamptothecin ) to its active metabolite, SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin), by human liver carboxylesterase (HLC). Production of SN-38 was relatively inefficient and was enzyme deacylation rate-limited with a steady-state phase occurring after 15-20 min of incubation. This later phase followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 52.9 +/- 5.9 microM and a specific activity of 200 +/- 10 mumol/sec/mol. However, the total enzyme concentration estimated from the intercept concentrations of SN-38 was much lower than that estimated directly from the titration of active sites with paraoxon (0.65 vs. 2.0 microM, respectively). Because deacylation rate-limiting kinetics result in the accumulation of inactive acyl-enzyme complex, we postulated that incubation of CPT-11 with HLC would result in an inhibition of the HLC-catalysed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylacetate (p-NPA), an excellent substrate for this enzyme. Indeed, this was found to be the case although complete inhibition could not be attained. Analysis of possible kinetic schemes revealed that the most likely explanation for the disparity in estimated enzyme concentrations and the incomplete inhibition of p-NPA hydrolysis is that CPT-11 also interacts at a modulator site on the enzyme, which profoundly reduces substrate hydrolysis. Furthermore, loperamide, a drug often used for the treatment of CPT-11-associated diarrhea, was found to inhibit both CPT-11 and p-NPA HLC-catalysed hydrolysis, most likely by a similar interaction. These observations have direct implications for the clinical use of CPT-11.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Identification and properties of a major plasma metabolite of irinotecan (CPT-11) isolated from the plasma of patients.

Irinotecan [7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (CPT-11)] is a promising water-soluble analogue of camptothecin [S. Sawada et al., Chem. & Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo), 39: 1446-1454, 1991]. We have reported previously the presence of an important polar metabolite, in addition to 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) beta-glucuronide, in samples of plasma taken from patients undergoing treatment with CPT-11 (L.P. Rivory and J. Robert, Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 36: 176-179, 1995; L. P. Rivory and J. Robert, J. Cromatogr., 661: 133-141, 1994). Plasma samples (0.5 ml) containing comparatively large amounts of this metabolite were extracted by solid-phase columns and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry in parallel to fluorometric detection. The metabolite yielded [M + 1] ions with a m/z of 619, representing the addition of 32 atomic mass units to CPT-11. Purified fractions were subjected to proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and the structure determined, 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(5-aminopentanoic acid)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycampothecin (APC), was further validated following synthesis. Like CPT-11, APC was found to be only a weak inhibitor of the cell growth of KB cells in culture (IC50, 2.1 versus 5.5 micrograms/ml for CPT-11 and 0.01 microgram/ml for SN-38, the active metabolite of CPT-11) and was a poor inducer of topoisomerase I DNA-cleavable complexes (100-fold less potent than SN-38). In contrast to CPT-11, APC was not hydrolyzed to SN-38 by human liver microsomes or purified human liver carboxylesterase. Furthermore, APC did not inhibit the hydrolysis of CPT-11 in these preparations. Interestingly, APC was only a weak inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase in comparison to CPT-11 and neostigmine. It appears likely, therefore, that APC does not contribute directly to the activity and toxicity profile of CPT-11 in vivo.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Further observations on the measurement of fatty acid incorporation by erythrocyte ghosts to quantify unbound palmitate concentration in albumin-palmitate mixtures.

Advantage has been taken of the extensive and reversible incorporation of long-chain fatty acids by erythrocyte ghosts to characterize the interaction of tritium-labeled palmitic acid with human serum albumin (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). A stoichiometric binding constant for 1:1 complex formation (K1) of 4.6 (+/-0.3) x 10(8) M-1 was obtained from experiments in which erythrocyte ghosts were the source of fatty acid. An essentially identical estimate of 4.1 (+/-0.7) x 10(8) M-1 was obtained from a second series of experiments in which the [3H]palmitate was included with the albumin in the aqueous phase. The magnitude of the present K1 estimate, which is three- to fivefold larger than most recently reported values, reflects binding measurements restricted to a very limited range of unbound palmitate concentration (-0.2 nM) to ensure that the ligand is essentially monomeric. This use of erythrocyte ghosts to quantify the palmitate-albumin interaction has reinforced the basic tenets of a published procedure [I. N. Bojesen, and E. Bojesen (1992) J. Lipid Res. 33, 1327-1334], the major virtue of which is its ability to provide a direct measure of the equilibrium concentration of unbound fatty acid in albumin-palmitate mixtures.

Binding Sites↗

Formation of pyridinium species of haloperidol in human liver and brain.

Recent interest in the neurotoxicity of haloperidol is based on its oxidation in rodents to the pyridinium derivative, HPP+, a structural analog of the neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). Recently, we reported that HPP+ and a newly identified reduced pyridinium, RHPP+, were present in blood and urine of haloperidol-treated schizophrenics and that the concentrations of RHPP+ exceeded those of HPP+. In this study, we examined pathways for formation of RHPP+ in subcellular fractions of human liver (n = 5) and brain (basal ganglia; n = 5). The major pathway was reduction of HPP+ (20 microM) to RHPP+ in cytosol (0.17-0.39 and 0.03-0.07 microM RHPP+/g cytosolic protein per h in liver and brain, respectively). The reactions were inhibited significantly by menadione and in brain also by daunorubicin. The inhibition profile, cytosolic location and strict NADPH dependence suggest that the enzymes involved are ketone reductases. A second pathway was oxidation of reduced haloperidol (50 microM), a major metabolite of haloperidol in blood and brain, to RHPP+. In liver microsomes, 0.17-0.63 mumol RHPP+ was formed /g microsomal protein per h. A potent inhibitor of the pathway was ketoconazole (IC50, 0.8 microM), which suggests that P-450 3A isozymes could be involved. In brain mitochondria but not microsomes, reduced haloperidol (120 microM) was oxidised to RHPP+ at a small but significant rate (0.005-0.020 mumol RHPP+/g mitochondrial protein per h) which was not attenuated by SKF 525A, quinidine, ketoconazole, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Further studies are warranted to establish the biological importance of these metabolites in vivo.

Adolescent↗

Effects of lipophilicity and protein binding on the hepatocellular uptake and hepatic disposition of two anthracyclines, doxorubicin and iododoxorubicin.

The anthracyclines, in particular doxorubicin (DOX), have been used for the intra-arterial locoregional therapy of liver tumours for over two decades. However, the results obtained with this form of therapy have been disappointing. It is widely recognised that DOX has a slow and limited tissue uptake, and we hypothesised that lipophilic analogues could be more suitable for locoregional administration. Using rat hepatocyte suspensions and the isolated rat liver, we examined the effects of lipophilicity, as determined from the octanol: buffer partition coefficient (Koct:buf), and protein binding of several anthracyclines on hepatocellular uptake. In particular, we compared DOX with 4'-iodo-4'-deoxy-doxorubicin (IDX), which differs only in the substitution of the daunosamine hydroxyl by an iodine molecule. Using a direct spectrofluorimetric method to evaluate cell uptake, we found that the influx rates correlated with the logarithm of Koct:buf and that IDX had the highest rate. However, the addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to the medium reduced the hepatocellular uptake of IDX more extensively than that of DOX such that the DOX uptake exceeded that of IDX with 4% BSA. Experiments in the isolated perfused rat liver confirmed these findings. We suggest that a trade-off of cellular uptake for reduced protein binding is desirable in the selection of drugs for intrahepatic administration. This may be accomplished by choosing anthracyclines with intermediate lipophilicity.

Animals↗

Dopamine receptor binding of 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)- 4-oxobutyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (HPTP), an intermediate metabolite of haloperidol.

The neuroleptic agent haloperidol (HP) is biotransformed to metabolites such as 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (HPTP) and 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]pyridinium (HPP+). In this study, radioligand binding studies were performed using [3H]SCH23390 as a dopamine D1 receptor ligand and [3H]spiperone as a D2 ligand. Ki values for D1 receptors were 35.8 microM and 54.9 microM for HP and HPTP, respectively. Corresponding values for D2 receptors were 39.1 nM and 329.8 nM. These results indicate similar low affinities in the micromolar range for both HP and HPTP at the dopamine D1 receptor, a much higher affinity of both HP and HPTP for the D2 receptor than for the D1 receptor, and that HPTP binds to D2 receptors with a 9-fold lower affinity than HP. The data are consistent with observations in mice that HPTP is a much less potent acute neuroleptic agent than HP.

Animals↗

Haloperidol and its tetrahydropyridine derivative (HPTP) are metabolized to potentially neurotoxic pyridinium species in the baboon.

The in vivo metabolic fate of haloperidol (HP) and its tetrahydropyridine analog HPTP have been examined in the baboon to investigate the formation of potentially neurotoxic pyridinium metabolites that have been observed previously in humans. Urine samples collected from baboons treated with HPTP were shown to contain, in addition to the parent drug, the corresponding reduced HPTP (RHPTP), generated by reduction of the butyrophenone carbonyl group. RHPTP was characterized by comparison with a synthetic standard using HPLC with electrochemical detection and HPLC/MS/MS. Another compound identified by LC/MS/MS was a glucuronide metabolite of RHPTP. The HP pyridinium (HPP+) and reduced pyridinium (RHPP+) metabolites were shown to be present in urine from both HP and HPTP treated baboons by HPLC using fluorescence detection. The urinary excretion profile of HPP+ and RHPP+ in both groups was essentially identical and, in contrast to that observed in rodents, closely paralleled the profile found in humans treated with HP. These data in the baboon suggest that the metabolic processes involved in the production of the pyridinium metabolites of HP are similar to those in humans. Furthermore, the HPTP-treated baboon may be an appropriate model in which to study the role of pyridinium metabolites in the induction of tardive dyskinesia.

Animals↗

Sex differences in initial clearance of palmitate by human hepatocytes.

To determine if the sex differences in clearance of long chain fatty acids by the liver observed in the rat are relevant to humans, the authors isolated hepatocytes from human adult males and females (five per group) and measured the initial (unidirectional) clearance of [3H]-palmitate from buffer containing albumin. The clearance was significantly higher (about twofold) in hepatocytes from females because of a higher permeability of the plasma membrane to the fatty acid. The livers had been perfused with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and stored for 12-16 h before isolation of the cells. The magnitudes of the clearances in humans were similar to those in the rat when the livers were stored similarly, but lower than in cells isolated from fresh rat liver. When hepatocytes isolated from fresh rat liver were stored in UW solution, clearance of [3H]-palmitate was unaffected. Thus, hepatocytes prepared from intact liver stored for several hours in UW solution do not have as good preservation of function as hepatocytes isolated from fresh liver and then stored in UW solution.

Adolescent↗

Disposition of epirubicin after intraarterial administration in Lipiodol to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Delivering emulsions of anthracycline drugs in Lipiodol, an iodinated poppy-seed oil, via the hepatic artery for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become increasingly popular. However, investigations to determine the extent to which the Lipiodol sequesters the anthracycline in the liver have been limited. Concern has been expressed that such emulsions are not stable and that the anthracycline is, therefore, released rapidly into the circulation. We studied the pharmacokinetics of epirubicin (50 mg m-2) in five patients with nonresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma after infusion of an epirubicin/Lipiodol emulsion via the hepatic artery. We used a reliable and specific high-performance liquid chromatography assay that allows quantitation of plasma concentrations of epirubicin, epirubicinol, epirubicin glucuronide, and epirubicin aglycone. Although a large interpatient variability in pharmacokinetics was observed, our results were similar to historical data after epirubicin intravenous therapy. Only the results from one patient provided evidence of significant retention of the drug in the liver. It would appear that more stable formulations of epirubicin/Lipiodol are required to increase the efficacy of this form of treatment. We suggest that pharmacokinetic studies should accompany clinical evaluation of emulsions of epirubicin/Lipiodol for the treatment of HCC.

Aged↗

Sensitive, specific quantitative analysis of tacrolimus (FK506) in blood by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

The capacity of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS2) to detect and define individual components in a complex mixture has been utilized to develop a quantitative assay of the potent immunosuppressant drug, tacrolimus. Trough blood concentrations were measured in 175 samples obtained over several weeks after liver transplantation from seven patients. The assay was linear over the range of 0.2 to 100 micrograms/L. Imprecision was <8%, and accuracy was 99-101%. The turnaround time for a batch of 20 samples was 2.5 h. No interference from any of the other drugs being administered to the patients was evident. An ELISA also performed on the same samples overestimated the concentrations substantially, as indicated by a plot of the difference between the results for the two methods vs their mean. The favorable characteristics of the LC-MS2 assay, especially its sensitivity and specificity, will facilitate detailed pharmacokinetic studies of tacrolimus, particularly under circumstances in which metabolism is perturbed by either hepatic dysfunction or drug interactions.

Animals↗

Gastric emptying in acute overdose: a prospective randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that administration of activated charcoal is as efficacious and safe as the combination regimen of gastric emptying plus charcoal in adults after acute oral overdose. DESIGN: Prospective randomised controlled trial, with subjects presenting on odd-numbered dates allocated to the emptied group (E), and those on even-numbered dates to the not-emptied group (NE). SETTING: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane (a tertiary referral hospital), which serves an adult urban community, between 4 January 1988 and 11 June 1990. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients (13 years or older) who presented to the Emergency Department after ingesting an overdose of one or more compounds able to be adsorbed by activated charcoal. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received charcoal by the oral or nasogastric route. Those in the E group also had gastric emptying by ipecac-induced emesis or gastric lavage. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical course during the first six hours after treatment began, length of hospital stay, complications. RESULTS: 876 patients were eligible for the study. There were no significant differences between the E and NE groups in age and sex distribution, severity of the overdose or other characteristics, except the mean interval between presentation and administration of charcoal (91 min [SD, 52] for E group and 55 [SD, 41] for NE group; P = 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the E and NE groups in outcome, even when the groups were stratified for severity of the overdose or into subgroups that presented sooner or later than one hour after ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric emptying can be omitted from the treatment protocol for adults after acute oral overdose.

Adolescent↗

Cloning, expression, and purification of an anti-desipramine single chain antibody in NS/O myeloma cells.

Drug-specific monoclonal antibodies and their antigen-binding Fab fragments reverse acute desipramine toxicity in a rat experimental model by inducing a redistribution of drug from cardiac tissue into serum and extracellular fluid. In order to investigate the use of smaller recombinant antibody fragments such as single chain Fv (sFv) as an antidote, an efficient murine NS/O myeloma expression system was developed. The variable light (VL) and variable heavy (VH) domains of a murine anti-desipramine monoclonal antibody were cloned and sequenced. A 270 amino acid VH-(Gly4Ser)3-VL sFv was prepared by overlapping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of VH with heavy chain leader peptide, VL, and the linker. This construct was subcloned into a mammalian expression vector which utilizes the SR alpha promoter, a hybrid promoter consisting of the SV40 early promoter with portions of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I long terminal repeat and also containing the Escherichia cloi xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene for selection. NS/O myeloma cells were transfected by electroporation. Stable recombinant NS/O clones were screened for expression of sFv using reverse transcriptase-PCR to detect mRNA and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect sFv. Secreted sFv from clones capable of growth to a cell density of 2-4 x 10(6) viable cells/mL was purified in a single step using a desipramine affinity column resulting in 12-39 mg/L of purified sFv. Affinity-purified sFv had comparable desipramine binding activity to Fab when evaluated by competitive ELISA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of a paraquat-specific murine single chain Fv fragment.

Producing an effective antidote against poisoning by the herbicide paraquat (PQ) has proven to be an elusive goal. One approach that holds some promise is immunotherapy with antibody fragments. In this study we detail the production of a single chain Fv fragment (scFv) specific for paraquat by linking cloned heavy (Vh) and light chain (VL) variable region genes via the peptide spacer (Gly4-Ser)3. These genes were obtained from hybridoma cells secreting a PQ-specific murine monoclonal antibody. The scFv (28 kDa) was expressed at 4% of the total cell protein by the Escherichia coli vector, pPOW, but was associated with the membranes. After solubilization and reduction, the scFv was renatured by rapid dilution. Western blotting confirmed that the refolded scFv had similar structural properties to the parental mAb. The isoelectric point of the scFv (7.0) is equal to the value calculated from the deduced amino acid sequence. Surface plasmon resonance was used to demonstrate specific PQ binding by the refolded scFv(Ka=1.24x10(6)M(-1)) which is similar to that determined for the parent Fab fragment (4.6x10(6)(-1)).

Amino Acid Sequence↗