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Biomedical subjects

T Itaya

Publications and source records attributed to T Itaya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Purines. LII. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 8-methylguanine 7-oxide and its 9-arylmethyl derivatives.

The synthesis of 8-methylguanine 7-oxide (3) was accomplished via a "phenacylamine route", which started from condensation of alpha-(4-methoxybenzylamino)propiophenone (6), prepared by coupling of alpha-bromopropiophenone (4) and 4-methoxybenzylamine (5), with 2-amino-6-chloro-5-nitro-4(3H)-pyrimidinone (7) and proceeded through cyclization of the resulting phenacylaminopyrimidinone (8) and removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group. The N-oxide 3 and its 9-arylmethyl derivatives 9 and 11 showed only very weak antileukemic activity and no antimicrobial activity.

Animals↗

Purines. L. Synthesis and antileukemic activity of the antibiotic guanine 7-oxide and its 9-substituted derivatives.

A full account is given of the first chemical synthesis of the antitumor antibiotic guanine 7-oxide (5) and its 9-substituted derivatives (24a--k and 26). Coupling of appropriate primary amines (17a--e, g--k) with phenacyl bromide (16) produced, after treatment with HCl, the corresponding N-substituted phenacylamine hydrochlorides (18a--e, g--k). A similar phenacylation of 4-amino-l-butanol (21) failed to give the desired compound 18f, so that 21 was heated with 2-bromomethyl-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (20) at 150-155 degrees C for 3h to furnish, after treatment with HCl, the amino ketal hydrochloride 22 in 40% yield. Deketalization of 22 with hot 2 N aqueous HCl afforded 18f in 96% yield. Condensations of the free bases, generated in situ from the hydrochlorides 18a--l and 1N aqueous NaOH, with the chloropyrimidinone 6 were effected in aqueous EtOH at the boiling point for 20 min or at 25-30 degrees C for 3-24h, giving the 6-phenacylamino-4-pyrimidinones 19a-l in 54-90% yields. On treatment with 2N aqueous NaOH at room temperature for 10-60 min, the nitropyrimidinones 19a--k cyclized to provide the 9-substituted guanine 7-oxides 24a--k in 61-98% yields. A similar alkali-treatment of 191 failed to yield guanine 7-oxide (5). However, removal of the 9-(arylmethyl) group from 24i--k was effected with conc. H2SO4 at room temperature for 1-3h in the presence of toluene, producing the target N-oxide 5 in 56-89% yields.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Purines. LI. Synthesis and biological activity of hypoxanthine 7-N-oxide and related compounds.

A detailed account is given of the first chemical synthesis of hypoxanthine 7-N-oxide (5), which started from coupling of 6-chloro-5-nitro-4(3H)-pyrimidinone (7) with N-(4-methoxybenzyl)phenacylamine, generated in situ from the hydrochloride (8), and proceeded through cyclization of the resulting phenacylaminopyrimidinone (9) and removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group. The results of catalytic hydrogenolysis, methylation followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis, and rearrangement under acidic conditions of 5 supported the correctness of the assigned structure. An ultraviolet spectroscopic approach suggested that the neutral species of 5 exists in H2O mainly as the N(7)-OH tautomer (21). In the in vitro bioassay of antileukemic activity against murine L5178Y cells, 5 was weakly cytotoxic, with IC50 of 100 micrograms/ml. It did not show any antimicrobial activity even at 1000 micrograms/ml. None of the 9-(4-methoxybenzyl) (11) and O-methyl (12, 13, and 14) derivatives was found to be antileukemic or antimicrobial.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effect of interleukin-4 on the in vitro growth of Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

We investigated the effect of recombinant human interleukin-4 (rhIL-4) on the in vitro growth of human leukemia cells in liquid culture and 3H-thymidine incorporation and found inhibitory effects on the growth of leukemic cells from patients with Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph1 ALL) and three Ph1 ALL cell lines. However, no inhibitory effects were seen in Ph1-positive leukemic cell lines derived from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis and various types of Ph1-negative leukemia cells, including B-lineage leukemia cells. In a flow cytometry assay of IL-4 receptor (IL-4R), all three Ph1-positive ALL cell lines showed the presence of IL-4R on their cell surfaces, and the IL-4-dependent inhibition on the growth of Ph1-positive ALL cells was abrogated by the addition of either monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against rhIL-4. Other cytokines, including IL-2, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF), granulocyte-CSF, and IL-6, showed no inhibitory effects on the growth of Ph1-ALL cells, but tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon (IFN)-alpha, -beta, and -gamma displayed slight inhibitory effects in a high concentration. The growth inhibition induced by rhIL-4 in the Ph1-positive ALL cells was not abrogated by the addition of antibodies against either IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha. Furthermore, these cells showed no significant production of IFN-alpha, -beta, or -gamma or TNF-alpha after exposure to rhIL-4, thus indicating that the growth inhibition of Ph1-positive ALL cells by rhIL-4 is not associated with IL-4-stimulating production of these factors. rhIL-4 caused significant inhibition of the tyrosine kinase activity in these Ph1-positive ALL cells, similar to Herbimycin A, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase that inhibited the tyrosine kinase activity in these cells. Our finding suggests that the clinical evaluation of rhIL-4 may offer promising therapeutic possibilities for patients with Ph1-positive ALL.

Cytokines↗

Reduced tumorigenicity of murine tumor cells secreting gamma-interferon is due to nonspecific host responses and is unrelated to class I major histocompatibility complex expression.

Spontaneous SP1 murine adenocarcinoma cells transfected with the murine gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) gene expressed IFN-gamma (SP1/IFN-gamma) failed to grow in syngeneic hosts and grew in nude mice. The rejection of SP1/IFN-gamma cells was related to the amount of IFN-gamma produced and appeared to be mediated primarily by nonspecific cellular mechanisms, although some role for T-cells in the afferent arm of this response is possible. SP1 cells are H2-Kk negative but express class I antigens when producing IFN-gamma. However, class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression, while likely necessary, was insufficient in itself to prevent tumor growth since secretion of greater than 64 units/ml IFN-gamma was needed to inhibit tumorigenicity while only 8 units/ml IFN-gamma could induce class I antigens. Similar results were obtained with the murine colon carcinoma CT-26, a tumor that constitutively expresses class I MHC antigens, further supporting the contention that class I MHC expression is not essential for the rejection response induced by IFN-gamma. The failure of SP1/IFN-gamma cells to protect against a challenge with parent SP1 cells argues that factors other than IFN-gamma production or class I MHC expression are needed to induce a protective response against weakly or nonimmunogenic tumor cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Immunogenicity of a non-class I MHC expressing murine tumor transfected with the influenza virus hemagglutinin or murine interleukin-2 genes.

The transfection of murine SP1 tumor cells with the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza virus results, after fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS), in the selection of high-HA-expressing cell lines called H4A and H4B. Both lines fail to grow in syngeneic animals at doses that result in 100% tumor take of non-transfected tumor cells. Both grow in immunosuppressed mice. SP1 and H4A or H4B cells express few class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens but do express class II IAk antigens. H4A or H4B cells engender a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response but cannot protect against a challenge with SP1 cells. This CTL response is inhibited by anti-CD4 but not anti-CD8 antibodies. Using FACS, we were able to select a population (called H5AK5) with high class-I MHC antigen expression. Like H4A and H4B, H5AK5 cells fail to grow in syngeneic animals but do grow in immunosuppressed mice. However, unlike H4A or H4B, H5AK5 can induce protection against a challenge with 1 x 10(5) SP1 cells. These studies indicate that the immunogenicity of HA-transfected SP1 cells may correlate with the cell-surface expression of class II MHC antigens. However, HA-expressing SP1 cells seem able to induce a protective response against a parent SP1 cell challenge only if they also express class I MHC antigens. This view is supported by the observations that SP1 cells expressing murine interleukin-2 do not express class I MHC antigens, fail to grow in syngeneic animals, do grow in immunosuppressed mice but do not protect against a challenge with parental SP1 cells.

Animals↗

[Transient B lymphocytosis associated to hepatitis B after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

A 42-year-old male suffered from AML (M2) and achieved remission with chemotherapy. After that, he was successfully treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. About eight months later, jaundice and general malaise developed and diagnosis of acute hepatitis B type was made based on laboratory findings. After 3 months of a conservative therapy, he recovered from the disease. During the clinical course of the hepatitis, B lymphocytes were increased to about 70% of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) transiently, and furthermore CD5 positive B lymphocytes occupied 12% of the PBLs at that time. This B lymphocytosis disappeared gradually along with the improvement of the hepatitis. The remarkable increase of B lymphocytes in PBLs was considered to be an abnormal reaction induced by HB virus infection, when his immune system was in the recovering phase after bone marrow transplantation.

Adult↗

Interleukin-2 production by tumor cells bypasses T helper function in the generation of an antitumor response.

A poorly immunogenic murine colon cancer was used to investigate mechanisms of antitumor immunity. Injection of tumor cells engineered by gene transfection to secrete IL-2 stimulated an MHC class I-restricted cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against the parental tumor. The tumor cells secreting IL-2 produced an antitumor response in vivo, even in the absence of CD4+ T cells. Animals immunized with the engineered cells were protected against subsequent challenge with the parental tumor cell line. Similar findings were demonstrated for other tumor types. Thus, provision of a helper lymphokine in a paracrine fashion induced a tumor-specific immune response involving activation of endogenous CTLs and other immune effector cells. These findings demonstrate that the failure of an effective antitumor immune response may be primarily due to a helper arm deficiency of the immune system rather than a paucity of tumor-specific cytotoxic effector cells. Furthermore, they outline a novel strategy for augmenting tumor immunity.

Animals↗

Alterations of responsiveness to adrenoceptor agonists and calcium of non-infarcted hypertrophied muscles from rats with chronic myocardial infarction.

1. The responsiveness of hypertrophied right ventricular muscle from rats with chronic myocardial infarction (MI) was examined. Myocardial infarction was produced by ligating the left coronary artery. The positive inotropic effects of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists and calcium on the isolated non-ischaemic muscles were determined at one and four weeks after ligation, and were compared with those in sham-operated (SO) rats. 2. The contractile force of electrically-driven right ventricular papillary muscles was measured isometrically. We also determined the change of beating rate of the right atrium in response to a beta-adrenoceptor agonist. 3. Basal contractile force increased at four weeks after ligation. 4. The pEC50 values of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, methoxamine, and calcium increased at four weeks after ligation, but the pEC50 values of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist, dobutamine did not change. 5. Maximal contractile force did not change with these agonists at either one and four weeks after ligation. 6. Tissues from rats four weeks after MI exhibited slight increases in the Bmax of alpha- but not beta-receptors, without any changes of affinity. 7. The increases in the sensitivity to an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist and calcium may be compensatory mechanisms of non-infarcted ventricular tissue which has undergone hypertrophy in chronic MI.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Increases in alpha-but not beta-adrenoceptors in hypertrophied non-infarcted cardiac muscles from rats with chronic myocardial infarction.

The alteration in adrenoceptors in the hypertrophied right ventricle of the rats with myocardial infarction (Ml) was examined. The density of alpha-1-adrenoceptors increased in four and twelve week old Ml rats but not in one week old Ml rats. The beta-adrenoceptors did not significantly change. It is probable that the increased density of alpha-adrenoceptors may be one of the causes for the increased responsiveness to the alpha-adrenergic agonist in the hypertrophied cardiac muscles of Ml rats.

Animals↗

Systemic immunity against a murine colon tumor (CT-26) produced by immunization with syngeneic cells expressing a transfected viral gene product.

We have previously shown that CT-26 tumor cells expressing the transfected hemagglutination antigen of influenza virus elicit an immune response in syngeneic hosts that is cross-protective against an s.c. challenge with non-transfected parental cells. Since CT-26 is a murine colorectal carcinoma we sought to determine whether the same immuno-protective effect could be achieved after a challenge with parent tumor cells injected into the usual sites of colon tumor growth and metastasis. We now show that the protection afforded by this immunization protocol is systemic and that animals can be protected against tumor growth in the cecum, lymphatics of the mesentery, liver and lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Genotypic and phenotypic evidence of clonal interactions in murine tumor cells.

The stability of mixed tumor cell populations has been described in terms of phenotypic characteristics such as metastatic potential, immunogenicity, and drug resistance. We have extended these analyses to the molecular level in a model that uses transfection of the hemagglutinin antigen (HA) gene of influenza virus into murine CT-26 colorectal carcinoma cells. Transfection was followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to select a parent population with expression of high levels of HA. We characterized this population (FACS-3) and four derived clones (5, 6, 9, and 18) over time with regard to phenotypic characteristics: immunogenicity and cross-protection against tumor challenge, cell surface expression of HA, evidence of HA gene amplification, and levels of HA mRNA. During 6 months in culture, the FACS-3 parent cells remained stable, but the individual clones varied for all of the parameters assessed. Among the clones, all possible molecular variations occurred, including changes in HA gene copy number (increased in clone 5 and decreased in clone 18), gene rearrangement (clone 5), decrease in HA mRNA (clones 6, 9, and 18), increase in HA mRNA (clone 5), and an abnormality in translational control or a posttranslational error. In all cases, the molecular changes correlated with cell surface HA expression, immunogenicity, and cross-protective potential. We conclude that in vitro clonal interactions play a role in stabilizing heterogeneity in this system. These studies show that even in the absence of selection, clonal interactions may alter the phenotype of tumors by increasing malignant progression or impeding tumor growth.

Animals↗

Retention of immunogenicity after X-irradiation of mouse colon tumor cells expressing the transfected influenza virus hemagglutinin gene.

We have previously demonstrated that murine colon tumor cells transfected with the gene coding for the hemagglutination antigen (HA) of influenza virus acquire an inherent immunogenicity, fail to grow in syngeneic mice, and demonstrate an ability to cross-protect against a challenge with parental nontransfected cells. In the present study the immunogenic potential of HA-transfected cells correlated with cell-surface HA expression, as measured both by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and by radio-labeled antibody binding. HA-transfected immunogenic cells had a median lethal dose (LD50) that was 10,000-fold greater than that of nontransfected cells. Most importantly this study demonstrated that HA-transfected cells retained their immunogenicity after X-irradiation with 12,000 rad. This characteristic makes their potential usefulness in treating human neoplasia more plausible.

Animals↗

Studies towards the synthesis of the fluorescent bases of phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acids: synthesis of 7-methylwye isolated from extremely thermophilic archaebacteria.

Acid- or base-catalyzed acylation of 1-benzylwye (7) provided the 7-substituted derivatives 9, 10, and 11 in poor yields. Although the reactions of lithiated 7 with electrophiles gave the 2-substituted derivatives 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, and 22, lithiation of 1-benzyl-7-bromo-2-chlorowye (23) followed by treatment with Me2CHCH2CHO (13) successfully introduced a side chain at the 7-position to afford 1-benzyl-2-chloro-7-(1-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)wye (24). Cyclization of 1-benzyl-3-methylguanine (5) with 3-bromo-2-butanone followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis afforded 7-methylwye (2b), the hypermodified base isolated from archaebacterial transfer ribonucleic acids. A more efficient route for the synthesis of 2b has been developed via a series of reactions: the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of 7, reduction with NaBH4, and catalytic hydrogenolysis over Pd-C.

Archaea↗

Induction in a murine tumor of immunogenic tumor variants by transfection with a foreign gene.

Transfection of the undifferentiated murine colon carcinoma line CT-26 with the gene coding for the hemagglutination antigen (HA) of influenza virus resulted in the generation of highly immunogenic tumor cells. CT-26 cells transfected with HA not only failed to grow in syngeneic mice but also protected normal animals against a challenge with otherwise lethal doses of parental nontransfected cells. The immunogenicity of HA-transfected cells appeared to correlate with surface HA expression in that tumorigenic clones of HA-transfected CT-26 cells expressed little HA, while immunogenic clones were high expressers of HA. Irradiation of immunogenic HA clones did not abrogate their immunogenicity. These observations demonstrate that immune recognition of a poorly immunogenic tumor can be produced by immunization with tumor cells expressing a defined, foreign cell surface antigen.

Animals↗

Modification of regression of virally xenogenized tumor cells by cyclophosphamide and busulfan.

Rat fibrosarcoma cells infected with Friend leukemia virus (FV-KMT-17) grow for a short time and then regress spontaneously in syngeneic hosts. This regression mechanism was examined by analyzing the immunomodulating action of the antitumor drugs busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide (CY). In preliminary experiments, the optimum dosages of BU and CY for the enhancement of DTH responses to SRBC were 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg respectively. Treatment of rats with BU (10 mg/kg) on day 5 induced the regression of KMT-17 cells, while in contrast, the same drug delayed the spontaneous regression of FV-KMT-17 cells. Pretreatment with CY (40 mg/kg) on day 5 did not affect the growth of KMT-17 or FV-KMT-17 cells. After the same treatment schedule, BU inhibited humoral antibody formation against SRBC and against virus-associated antigen (VAA), NK cell activity, and ADCC effector cell activity. On the other hand, CY did not affect the activities of NK cells or ADCC effector cells, although it significantly augmented the DTH responses to SRBC and the production of antibody to VAA but had no effect on production of antibodies to SRBC. These results suggest that NK cells and ADCC may play an important role in the initial stage of the spontaneous regression of FV-KMT-17 cells.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics and safety of l-carnitine infused i.v. in healthy subjects.

The pharmacokinetics and safety of a brief i.v. infusion of l-carnitine 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg have been investigated in 10 healthy subjects. The diurnal intraindividual variability of plasma carnitine was small (C. V. = 3.0, 3.9 and 3.9%, respectively), and the total 24 h excretion in urine was also small and relatively constant: 4.6, 21.5 and 13.0 mg/day in the controls vs 4.6, 20.2 and 6.0 mg/day during treatment in the three subjects to whom saline alone was administered according to a single-blind design. Therefore, the pre-dose level of carnitine was subtracted from the level after dosing for the pharmacokinetic analysis. Plasma carnitine fitted well to a three-compartment open model, with Vc of 0.11-0.20 l/kg and a t1/2 gamma of 10-23 h. The urine recovery in 24 h was 77.2-95.4%. There were no objective or subjective side-effects attributable to carnitine, so its i.v. infusion is considered to be safe.

Adult↗